280 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIII, 
blowing a little fresh water in through the hole with the blow-pipe. Then it 
can be laid aside on a clean cloth or cotton wadding, with the hole down- 
wards, to drain and get dry,and then, after the removal of stains and dirt 
from the outside «ith soap and warm water, it will be ready for the cabinet, 
When an egg is‘ hard-set,’ howcver, the process is not so simple, and often 
considerable patience is required to clear it of its contents. The great thing 
is not to try and hurry the job inany way. Having removed as much of the 
liquid contents as possible with the blow-pipe, prick the embryo with a 
needle in various directions and fill up the egg with water. This will 
hasten the decomposition of the contents and it can be laid aside, in a warm 
place for choice, for a couple of days, when it can again be‘ worked’ a bit, 
and perhaps a few pieces removed before being ; ut aside again—of course 
filled up with water as before. 
By this means the largest embryo can, with care and patience, be success- 
fully extracted, and after a little practice an egg, even on the point of 
hatching, can be cleared through a wonderfully small hole, but, until con- 
fidence is gained by actual experience, it is a mistake to try with too small 
a hole, as it will probably only end in the destruction of the egg. 
With eggs, to which of course it is impossible to attach a label, the date 
must necessarily be written on the underside of the egg itself. This is best 
done with Indian ink, or in the case of dark coloured eggs with a solution 
- of white paint, applied with a fine etching pen or with a very fine red sable 
brush, the latter for choice. The necessary data consist of— 
(1) Name of species, with Text Book No, 
(2) Collectors’ number which belongs to every egg of a clutch, 
(8) Number of eggs in the clutch. 
(4) Date in full. 
(To be continued.) 
