38 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTORS 



that the shape and arrangement of nest material is retained. This is espec- 

 ially important with thin-walled, flimsy nests. The nest should be put in a 

 box or container large enough to take it without flattening or distorting it. 

 Thickly woven nests such as those of weaver birds can stand a certain amount 

 of compression without harm, but with other nests this may destroy the 

 structure. A number of nests may be packed into the same container, but 

 they should be individually wrapped so that material from one does not 

 become detached and adhere to another. 



There is no good way to preserve the larger and looser nests. Attempts 

 have been made to spray these with plastic resins to create a more solid 

 moveable structure, but the effort involved is likely to be considerably 

 greater than the scientific value of the end-product. 



