Birds. 7199 



The most effectual way of adopting this method of emptying eggs 

 is by using very many layers of thin paper and plenty of thick gum, 

 but this is of course the most tedious ; nevertheless it is quite worth 

 the trouble in the case of really rare specimens, and they will be none 

 the worse for operating upon from the delay of a few days, caused by 

 waiting for the gum to dry and harden. The naturalist to whom this 

 method first occurred has found it answer remarkably well in every 

 case that it has been used, from the egg of an eagle to that of a 

 humming bird, and among English oologists it has been generally 

 adopted. 



The surest method of packing eggs so as to travel long distances 

 and by rough modes of conveyance without receiving injury is to roll 

 lip each specimen separately in tow, flax, wool, or some similar material, 

 so as to form a ball, and then to place these balls side by side in a 

 good stout box, taking care that there be no room for them to shift 

 their position. Those to whom this method may appear too trouble- 

 some are recommended first to put a layer of one of the substances 

 just mentioned at the bottom of the box, then a layer of eggs, upon 

 these another layer of packing material, and so on until the box is 

 completely filled. The box should then be shaken, and if any rattling 

 of the contents is heard additional packing material is required. More 

 breakages occur by the use of boxes too large for the number of eggs 

 than the contrary. As a general rule it may be stated that eggs if blown 

 do not break against one another, but against the sides of the box ; if 

 unblown, however, their weight renders it necessary to protect them from 

 each other. On the other hand, the surest method of packing eggs so 

 that they may arrive at their journey's end broken is one which, though 

 of course with the contrary intention, has often been recommended, viz., 

 to place them in a box, filling up the interstices between them with 

 bran, sawdust, corn or sand. The effects of this method are in one 

 respect diverse; if the eggs be unblown they will, after sufficient jolting, 

 be found at the bottom, if blown at the top of the box, but in either 

 case the result will be the same, and many be smashed. There is, 

 perhaps, no greater annoyance to an oologist than to receive from a 

 correspondent a lot perhaps of valuable and carefully collected eggs 

 broken through bad packing. 



6. Concluding Observations. 



The best allies of the collector are the, residents in the country, 

 whether aboriginal or settlers, and with them he should always endea- 

 vour to cultivate a close intimacy, which may be assisted by the offer 



