146 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



perstition that no bird can count to more than three. 

 Whether this be true or not, a bird with four eggs very 

 often forsakes her nest after two have been taken away, 

 while this very rarely occurs if three remain. 



' The best way to go about making a collection is to 

 commence in the early spring, looking for signs of birds 

 building their nests ; the Water Ouzel, or Dipper, breeds 

 early, also the Common and Mistletoe Thrush. The eggs 

 should be taken as soon as four appear in the nest, and 

 blown in the following manner, taking it for granted that 

 the collector is provided with a drill and blow-pipe. Drill 

 a small hole exactly on the side of the egg, selecting that 

 side of a spotted egg with the least colour. Then, with 

 the point of the blow-pipe inserted in the hole, blow all the 

 contents of the egg out, beginning to blow very gently 

 at first, and being careful, with small eggs, not to burst 

 them. When the contents are nearly emptied, wash the 

 egg out with clean cold water, being careful not to wet 

 the outside or rub it too much, or the colour will come out, 

 as the spots of most eggs disappear if washed, or even if 

 left long out in the rain. When the eggs have been blown 

 and properly dried, the hole should be covered up with a 

 piece of gummed paper, and the egg placed in a drawer with 

 small compartments in it, amongst cotton-wool. A label 

 should be placed with each egg, bearing the name and dis- 

 trict in which it was found, day of the month, year, &c. 

 These little memoranda often prove very useful afterwards. 

 The next point to notice is, that the usual positions of 

 birds' nests have exceptions at times. For instance, the 

 Water Ouzel, whose nest is usually near to some water- 

 fall or moist place (very often behind a waterfall, through 

 which she flies when disturbed), has been found nesting in 



