INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS. 11 



paper while the incident is still fresh, and the memory of it not 

 interfered with by other and newer matters of strong- interest, the 

 record is sure to be accurate ; while mere recollection at a later 

 date is about sure to be insufficient or untrustworthy. 



Perhaps the boy-collector too may not think a few sentences 

 about blowing and drying and mounting his egg-treasures either 

 tiresome or unnecessary. As a rule, let the egg intended to be 

 kept be blown and dried as soon as possible. There are several 

 reasons for this piece of advice. The light shells travel more 

 safely than the full egg; the egg-shells do not suffer detriment 

 from lying overlooked with their contents rotting within, as often 

 happens with the collector of un-careful and un-precise habits ; 

 they are put into a state of comparative readiness for prompt 

 and complete preparation and arrangement ; and though last not 

 least, a good, useful methodical habit is encouraged in the col- 

 lector himself. 



There are several ways of blowing an egg and going through 

 the preparatory stages of fitting it to take its place in a collection. 

 There are also instruments for extracting the contents of the 

 shell so as to obviate the necessity of making more than one hole. 

 I don't think they are likely to be of much use to a mere boy. I 

 am sure they would be a great deal of trouble, and I don't think 

 that the end gained would repay the trouble and care expended. 

 I have always found a small hole, only just large enough to admit 

 the passage of sufficient air to expel the contents, made very care- 

 fully and neatly at the small end, and a larger one about half-way 

 between the great end and the line of greatest diameter, which need 

 not be more than a line in breadth for the very largest eggs (if not 

 " hard-sat, 35 ) quite sufficient for my purpose, and not objectionable 

 on the score of disfiguring the shell ; for by mounting the egg 

 with the larger or vent hole, downwards the smaller hole being 

 practically invisible in a great number of instances, at least until 

 looked for it appears to be altogether entire and perfect. 



Any tolerably strong pin will do for the purpose with small 

 eggs. Eor the larger and harder shells something more efficient 

 will be required. A hard steel instrument fashioned like a " glo- 

 ver's needle" that is with the penetrating end furnished with 

 three edges all lost in the point is as good as any thing that 

 could be devised, and by having two or three of different sizes, 

 every case of necessity would be provided for. The sharp-pointed 

 pen-blade may be employed, but great care is necessary lest, 

 when tiie perforation is just effected, the Instrument slip a little 

 further in than was intended, and an ugly fragment of shell be 

 wrenched out. 



"When the egg is thoroughly blown, it is advisable to draw up 

 a little clean water into it by the process of immersing the vent- 



