EGGS IN THE FIELD. 33 



by placing it in a box perforated with a few pin-holes, 

 accompanied by a small sponge well saturated with 

 the liquid. Instead of carbolic acid, hyposulphite 

 of soda, a colorless and inoffensive solution, might 

 be used. Chlorine-water may also be recommended. 

 Dry disinfection is secured by blowing the nest full 

 of Persian insect-powder by the help of a bellows ; 

 after remaining a few hours the powder can be blown 

 out in the same way. It would be possible to use 

 powdered chloride of lime for the same purpose, but 

 this is less desirable ; one objection being that this 

 powder (and equally the chlorine-water spoken of 

 above) might bleach the color out of some compo- 

 nents of the nest. Other means of purifying your 

 prizes for the cabinet, where necessary, will suggest 

 themselves. 



CAKE OF EGGS m THE FIELD. 



Having secured your nest, if you think the eggs 

 are fresh — and their appearance will often tell — a 

 good plan is to remove the contents of the eggs right 

 there, since they can be carried with far greater safety 

 when empty. If you think there are embryos in 

 them, however, do not try to do this. "Wrap each egg 

 in cotton, and pack it in the nest. Inclose the nest 

 in a box, tie it up, put it in your basket and do not 

 forget it is there, else you may find everything ruined 



