BIRDS 41 



for each set. In placing small numbers on eggs with ink or very 

 soft pencil, great care is necessary to avoid breaking them. 



Eggs are prepared by blowing. A small hole is drilled into the 

 side of the egg (not the end) with an egg drill, and into this is 

 placed the small end of the blowpipe. Blow gently and steadily 

 through the blowpipe and the contents of the egg will run out. 

 Do this until the egg shell is entirely empty, then fill the mouth 

 with water and blow it into the eggshell to rinse it. Then blow 

 air in to get rid of all the water. Place the egg hole downward 

 to let it drain. When corn meal is available, the eggs may be 

 placed on this to dry. When they are dry, wrap carefully in 

 cotton and pack in small boxes, placing the labels with the eggs. 



Skeletons. — For preservation as skeletons select birds that are 

 not badly broken by shot. Broken wings or legs do not matter, 

 but do not skeletonize those with badly injured heads. It is 

 often possible to preserve the skeletons of birds with injured or 

 missing feathers or that are too bloody or dirty to skin. Prepare 

 a label giving locality, date, collector, and number in the same 

 form as for skins and tie to one foot. 



Pull off the skin of the body and neck with the feathers, leaving 

 the skin and feathers on the head, and the large feathers in the 

 wings and tail. These will serve to identify the species later. 



With a knife cut off the large muscles on the breast, legs, and 

 wings, using great care not to injure the bones or to cut off 

 delicate processes of bone. Remove the viscera, being sure to 

 ascertain whether the bird is male (o*) or female ($), and write 

 this in your catalog and on the label. In this preparation corn 

 meal, fine hardwood sawdust, or dry earth may be used to absorb 

 excess blood. 



