86 BIEDS'-NESTING. 



are conducted. This is a very good method. In the 

 absence of some such standard I like best to say, 

 "Give me a set of such and such eggs, which I want, 

 and I will give you these specimens that you want. " 

 If the other party agrees, it is settled, and both are 

 satisfied ; or if either is not, the other ought to make 

 him so, provided he is sincere. 



HOW TO PACK SAFELY. 



To pack eggs for transportation, each one should 

 be wrapped in a light envelope of cotton and laid 

 down in layers separated by strata of cotton. It is 

 convenient to prepare long strips of cotton-batting 

 half an inch or an inch wide, in which to enwrap 

 eggs, which are afterwards wound with a few turns 

 of thread to secure the swathing, or twisted into bits 

 of soft paper to the same effect. They should be 

 put into rather small boxes of wood or tin ; but if 

 paste-board be used, these should always be trans- 

 mitted inside a wooden box, as the eggs are thereby 

 less likely to be broken by a sudden jar or shock. 



Bran, saw-dust, etc., should not be employed as 

 packing, since it will sift to the bottom, allowing the 

 eggs to jar together and break in the top of the box. 

 Single eggs may safely be mailed to a distance in 

 auger-holes bored in wood, in cylinders made by 



