128 ZOOLOGY. 



of the orifice, there is considerable danger In exposing them 

 to even a small degree of heat, which is often necessary, on 

 account of insects depositing their eggs within or on the shells : 

 we have found the most convenient instrument for this pur- 

 pose, to be a strait triangular needle, fitted into a small 

 handle like an engraver's etching needle, this, with a little 

 practice, will enable any one to perforate an egg with nearly 

 as much exactness as if turned in a lathe ; when the eggs 

 are quite clean and dry, they should be affixed to pieces 

 of paper, and the papers gummed to the bottom of the nest, 

 which at any future time can easily be removed by immersing 

 the nest in warm water for a few minutes ; when the eggs 

 are placed in the nest, it may be useful to add any par- 

 ticulars relating thereto, on paper ; the nest should then be 

 filled out to its usual size with any soft substance, and 

 should be secured from the attacks of damp and insect*. 



As soon as a bird is obtained, if only wounded, the quick- 

 est mode of dispatching it, is by squeezing it across the 

 breast, by introducing the thumb and fore-finger under 

 the wings, and pressing with as much force as the size of the 

 bird requires, by this method, the feathers are not soiled, 

 and the animal is immediately freed from pain, an object 

 always deserving the attention of collectors. Should oppor- 

 tunity oflTer to keep the injured bird alive, if it be only 

 wounded in the wing, the best plan is to amputate the limb, 

 which may be easily accomplished, by pursuing the follow- 

 ing instructions. 



Supposing that the upper joint of the wing be fractured ; 

 the bird should be firmly held by an assistant^ and the fea- 



