4 ORNITHOLOGICAL AND OOLOGIGAL COLLECTIXG. 



After the egg is blown It should be thoroughly rinsed by taking water into the 

 mouth and spirting it through the blow-pipe. 



Eggs, as a rule, should be kept in sets; a "set" being those taken from any one 

 nest; and each one of a set should bear a number referring to a corresponding one in 

 a note-book where full particulars of the nest and eggs should be given. A printed 

 label or data blank similar to the following diagram is also necessary: 



Collector's No A. O. U. No 



Name 



Collected by 



Locality 



Date 



Set Identity Incubation 



Nest ; 



Measurements of Eggs 



For illustration, the blank lines of the label should be filled in the following 

 manner: Collector's No. 126. A. O. XT. No. 447. Name, Arkansas Flycatcher. Col- 

 lected by J. L. Clemmons. Locality, San Diego, California. Dated, June 2, 1881. 

 Set, % (indicating that the number of eggs in this set is four). Identity, bird shot. 

 Incubation, begun. Nest, made of coarse sticks and twigs, lined with hair and cotton, 

 placed in an "Australian Gum Tree," twenty feet from the ground. All these data 

 should be carefully written, and the label placed in the cabinet with the eggs. If 

 there are several sets of the same species, the collector should have his own number 

 to distinguish the sets. The label with full data should always accompany the set in 

 making exchanges. Besides the above particulars the note-book should be filled 

 with memoranda devoted to the records of nests found and examined; the general 

 nature of the surroundings; the precise color and condition of the eggs when found, 

 as all these fade quickly from the memory. 



Nests that can be collected require a wrapping of thread for their safe keeping, 

 as shown in Fig. 10, Plate 1, 



In climbing high trees, climbing irons are often used. A wooden or tin box, filled 

 with cotton, should be taken up with you; in this, securely place the eggs before de- 

 scending the tree. 



When eggs are to be shipped by mail or express they should never be packed in 

 anything but wooden or tin boxes. Each egg should be wrapped in cotton and bound 

 tightly with thread and then wrapped in tissue paper. Place them in layers in the 

 box with bits of cotton between each egg The bottom, sides and end of the boxes 

 are often lined with sheet cotton which is still better protection. 



In all ordinary cases collections of eggs are preserved in the drawers of a 

 cabinet. These, are divided by partitions, and each section partly filled with grated 

 cork or box-wood sawdust, in which the eggs are placed. The choice of a cabinet 

 must depend largely upon the collector's means, if not also upon his individual 

 prefepence. 



The very best trays or boxes ever designed for keeping eggs in the drawers of a 

 cabinet or for exhibition purposes are those manufactured by E. J. Schaefer, No. 338 

 Second street. New Orleans, Louisiana. They are neatly made of paste-board, the 

 sides and bottom are ingeniously cushioned with strips of sheet cotton. Each box 

 has a lid on which the label can be pasted. These boxes are made to suit all sizes 

 of eggs, and range in price from $2.50 to $8.00 per hundred, according to size. 



