36 BIRDS-NESTING. 



eggs for the cabinet. The old way used simply to be 

 to break a small hole in each end, blow out the con- 

 tents, and string the eggs, like beads, on pieces of 

 ribbon, which were hung up to adorn the wide empty 

 fire-place in winter with gay festoons. But we have 

 come to think, nowadays, that it is scarcely less 

 than wicked to deprive the birds of their eggs for no 

 better use than this : at least I am writing this book 

 for those only who have a higher aim in making a 

 collection and a better ultimate use for it than this. 



If two holes are to be made at all, and generally 

 one will suflice, let them never be bored at the apices 

 of the egg, but at a little distance from each end, 

 and both on the same side, choosing the side least 

 conspicuously marked. A blow-pipe applied to the 

 smaller hole will then force out the contents at the 

 other shghtly larger one ; but this is the least desir- 

 able plan. 



The best, and therefore the proper, way to empty 

 eggs is through a single hole in the plainest side. 

 This hole, of course, should be proportioned to the 

 size of the egg, and the amount of incubation it has 

 undergone. It should be circular with smooth edges. 

 The tools with which this is best accomplished are 

 steel drills, which may be procured at the natural- 

 ists' shops, at a dentist's, or may be made to order. 



The drills are of three sizes. Number one is meant 



