TREATMENT OF INCUBATED EGGS. 



43 



When it is known that incubation is much ad- 

 vanced, I should recommend that generally the 

 parent-birds be left to finish their labor of love ; yet 

 if the eggs are rarities greatly needed in the collec- 

 tion, it may be profitable to take them. Eggs long 

 sat upon are more easily blown by being kept a few 

 days, but the operation must not be deferred too 



Fig. 6. 



long, or they may burst violently immediately on 

 being punctured, unless held under water while the 

 first incision is made. When the embryo is well 

 grown, the hole may be drilled as before, but it must 

 be larger ; and as the drill is likely to split a shell 

 after it has bored a certain size of hole, it is often 

 well, with a fine needle, to prick a circular series of 

 minute holes, almost touching, and then remove the 



