1854.] Indian Oology. 591 



a manner I snail now describe, but some care and careful handling 

 are required to succeed with such eggs as of the English wren or 

 Indian palmswift. The ordinary mode which the young idea usually 

 aspires to inculcate into grandmamma is to make a hole at both 

 ends, but the plan I adopt is preferable to the infantile custom, as 

 from requiring a single hole, it does not so much damage or blemish 

 the shell. On deciding on the proper spot which is best in the side, 

 an oval hole must be made varying with the size of the egg, and on 

 holding the hole downwards the contents are easily evacuated by 

 blowing into the egg through a fine pointed blowpipe, the lip of 

 which is just introduced within the shell. 



The operation is neat and effectual but a violent blast must not 

 be attempted, as in that case the yolk may cause a momentary 

 obstruction and the egg explode from the pressure of the confined air 

 within. Neither should the hole be made too large, as the air will 

 then find too ready an exit and fail to expel the last portion of the 

 contents. The empty shell should then be immersed in water and 

 filled; by first exhausting the air with the blowpipe, this will effectually 

 clean the interior, and the last remains of moisture may be absorbed 

 on blotting paper. The interior should then be washed with a solu- 

 tion of corrosive sublimate in spirits. A common six penny brass 

 blowpipe answers perfectly for this. 



"When however, the incubation has lasted a long time, a good 

 plan is to extract the contents by means of a pin bent into a hook. 

 This is a tedious operation which I merely mention in case of any rare 

 egg requiring to be so treated. A third plan answers well for all eggs 

 of a large or medium size, when well incubated. A moderately sized 

 hole must be made in the eggs and the more liquid portion of the 

 contents got rid of. They should then be wiped clean and placed in 

 a shallow pan, when in a few days the maggots of the flesh-fly 

 will consume the contents. They will then only require to be 

 washed ; an operation performed with the greatest comfort by one 

 labouring under a severe cold, or glorying in an equally philosophic 

 nose with the ingenuous doctor in "Humphrey Clinker." The 

 best mode of packing moderate sized eggs in store is in wooden 

 boxes with saw dust, after closing the holes in the shells with their 

 paper. Tin boxes are not generally to be trusted, at least travelling, 



