Egg-Collecting and Its Object 



out the contents of an egg through a hole of insufficient size. In 

 large eggs, the scissors or forceps come into use. If the embryo 

 is very large soak the egg in water for a day or so. 



It is of the utmost importance that the egg should be thor- 

 oughly washed, both inside and out, with either cold or tepid water, 

 which may contain some weak antiseptic solution, but on no ac- 

 count must very hot water be used. The w'ater should be taken 

 up with the blow-pipe and discharged into the egg, repeating this 

 operation several times. Finally dry thoroughly, letting it drain, 

 hole downwards, on cornmeal, sawdust, blotting-paper, or sand 

 if nothing else is obtainable. 



In the case of white eggs their beauty is much enhanced by 

 inserting a little pink cotton-wool ; this makes the specimen ap- 

 pear more as though the yolk were inside. 



For field work have a few small metal boxes (such as those 

 used for holding tobacco) filled with cotton wadding cut into 

 squares, so that each egg may be wrapped up separately. Put on 

 each a number, written lightly in pencil, referring to your field 

 notes on that egg ; this saves a great deal of confusion, especially 

 when many eggs are found in a day. The A. O. U.* check list 

 number should be written on every egg to prevent the occurrence 

 of any possible mistake. 



If the collection consists of nests with the eggs a cabinet 

 with glass top will be needed, so that the nests may be seen, while 

 at the same time the air and dust may be excluded as much as 

 possible ; camphor or naphthaline must be kept in the cabinet. 

 Strong sunlight ought not to be allowed to fall on the eggs, for it 

 causes them to fade, so it is advisable to keep the cabinet covered 

 with some opaque material. Each nest should be marked either 

 with a number referring to the catalogue, or with that and the 

 name of the nest. If the collection contains only eggs, they should 

 be kept in a cabinet with well-made drawers, each drawer di- 

 vided off with partitions large enough to contain a complete set. 

 The eggs may be laid on cotton, sawdust, sand, or finely grated 

 cork, the last being perhaps the most suitable. 



* American Ornithologists' Union. 



20 



