THE COLLECTORS' MONTHLY. 



75 



A Mixture From Maine. 



[For the Collectors' Monthly] 



Maine is a great state, not bnl.y in size, 

 but aH a, field for the oologist. Other 

 states may have many of the birds thai 

 we do, but none other has them all. 

 Around here we have some drawbacks in 

 our collecting. 



Hermit Thrushes have been quite com- 

 mon around here this summer, more so 

 than in previous years 1 think. Some- 

 where around the neighboring ponds the 

 Bald Eagle nests; but I do not know of [ 

 the exact spot ever being located. 



At the present time there is, I think, no 

 oological paper published in this state. 

 Formerly we were represented by the 

 "Bittern" and the '"Maine and 0,'' 

 but in the September number of the Col- 

 lectors' Monthly, I saw the statement 

 that they had both been bought by C. 

 W. Hillman of Canisteo, N. Y. 



The Collectors' Monthly is a, fine 

 paper and I hope that all the Maine col- 

 lectors see it each month. Some of its 

 articles are especially interesting. I 

 would like for Maine to have a represen- 

 tative in the list of oological papers pub- 

 lished, and should like to hear from 

 those who have the same desire. 



Why don't we see some an ides in the 

 Collectors' Monthly on the collecting 

 of water-bird's eggs? Surely it must 

 have many subscribers who could write 

 on that subject if they chose. 



The English Sparrow is very thick 

 here. Every electric light on the streets 

 has a nest on tht- switch-board. The 

 linemen used to tear the nests out, but 

 this summer they have suffered them to 

 remain aud large numbers of these pests 

 have had a secure nesting place. 



Every lover of birds should surely at- 

 tend the Columbian Exhibition. I ex- 

 pect that there will be some extra fine 



displays of birds, their m-st s ;i rid i 



I!. II RoCKWOOD. 



Watervillc, Maine. 



Bird* of Kansas* 



By X. S. (loss. 

 We can furnish copies to all who desire 

 at the regular price, #7.">o. 



('. II. Phincb, Editor. 



To Preserve E^s*. 



When the egg has been blown, gel B 

 tine pointed syringe and inject the speci- 

 men with water until it comes out clear. 

 When an egg has been partly incubated 

 or riddled, the removal of tin- contents 

 generally includes that of the internal 

 membrane or pellicle; this makes the 

 shell weaker. When the egg is quite 

 clean and dry (which will take a day or 

 two) take the syringe and inject a strong 

 solution of isinglass and a little sugar- 

 candy, the latter is used to preserve the 

 shell from cracking, alter which the egg 

 should be thoroughly dried. This meth- 

 od not only varnishes the inside, bat 

 strengthens it also. If the specimen be 

 allowed to remain in the solution for a 

 short time ami then dried, the outside is 

 also varnished and the egu' will preserve 

 its color much better. I have tried the 

 above method and find it a great help. 

 — Agassiz ( 'ompanion. 



Just as the peregrine is the largest, so 

 the merlin is the smallest of British resi- 

 dent falcons. Although not much larger 

 than a thrush, this handsome little bird 

 is full of dash and fire, and commonly at- 

 tacks birds more tha n double t heir weight. 

 It has beeu known to pull down a par- 

 tridge, and it is sometimes terribly de- 

 structive to young grouse. While near- 

 ly all of the diurnal British birds of prey 

 build on rocks or trees, the merlin nests 

 on the ground. Its eggs are usually 

 found in some depression on a bright 

 heather brae or patch of bug, and these 

 are of the brightest red. 



