20 



THE OOLOGIST. 



Contents. 4th, Some kind of a blow-pipe 

 should be employed iu preparing eggs for 

 the cabinet. A cheap and convenient way 

 ■ it' limiting one, is to take a piece of com- 

 mon glass tubing, which can be procured 

 at any drug-store, apply heat and bend at 

 right angles making the'section intended for 

 the tip about three inches long; then heat 

 this piece at a poiut about one inch from 

 its extremity and draw out to a point and 

 lireak off. A blow-pipe prepared in this 

 manner will answer all practical purposes. 

 5th, After the contents have been remov- 

 ed the shell should be thoroughly cleansed. 

 ' -r csp-: mllv in wlnta eggs, if any part of 

 its contents remain, particularly blood, it 

 will show through. In order to accom- 

 plish the above, till the specimen with clean 

 Wfttex, shake and blow out. Repeat this 

 Operation until every particle of the consuls 

 is removed. 6th, Keep a memorandum 

 of the place and date of collection ; also take 

 if possible, the bird. I make it a rule nev- 

 er to take n uest unless I am positive, to 

 what bird it belongs, for nn unclassified 

 collection is worthless ; and even a few un- 

 authentic specimeus iu a collection cause 

 much annoyance. Many eggs differ wide- 

 ly even il'tlieybe lain by the same bird. 

 This I bave observed, especially iu the 

 ffctwk family. In the collection ofnw friend 

 R. B. Bough, there arc two eggs" of the 

 Buteo lineatta found in the same nest, one 

 of which is almost pure white whi'e the oth- 

 er is thickly blotched. Such eggfe should 

 lie saved in sets, as it is only in this way 

 that one fan form a correct knowledge of 

 the eggs of any species, for the single eggs, 

 especially the blotched ones, often give « 

 very erroneous idea of the general markings. 



C. P. KlHLKY. 



Colleothg Eagles' Eggs a Difficult Under- 



Thosk who obtain Eagles' eggs without 

 either paying high for them or risking their 

 necks, arc very few, as the illustration be- 

 low will show. 



I was anxious to get a set or more of 

 A\ lute-beaded Eagle's eggs, and. knowing 



where they nested, resolved to employ a 

 man to get some specimens for me. I tho't 

 I would offer live dollars for a set of three 

 eggs, supposing anyone at all 'circumstan- 

 tious' would accept it readily ; so when the 

 season came around, I took my irons, went 

 to a man who knew all about their charac- 

 teristics, and the following conversation, 

 as near as I can recollect, took place : 



"Well," says I ; "do you think you can 

 try some of those nests" to-day ? I am iu 

 some hurry for the eggs." 



"Wal, that depends lad, on the price 

 ye'll give fur 'em. It's no small job re- 

 member, tew climb thorn trees nearly a 

 hundred foot high." 



"No; I am aware of it." I replied, "and 

 for your trouble I will pay you well." 



"What do ye reckon '11 be worth gittin' 

 of a single nest ?" 



I said I was no judge of what it was 

 worth — probably not much. 



"That's where you are mistaken, lad ; 

 it's worth more 'n a day's wages to climb 

 them at old hoosier trunks !" 



I thought that was rather steep, and be- 

 ing naturally eager for a decision. I told 

 him 1 would give him tive dollars for a sin- 

 gle nest of eggs. 



"Wal, lad, I kin do that, but supposing 

 the nest don't hev nothin in? then What?" 



"Why I certainly should n't be willing 

 to pay for riolliimj," returned I, somewhat 

 surprised at such a question. 



"It ca n't be done then. I ain't a-goiu' 

 tew go up there nearly a hundred foot" fur 

 nothing." 



A thought striking me. I said; "Can't 

 you watch the uests and birds, and see what 

 time they lay?" 



He replied thai hr could, and would, if 

 I would pay him his wages while doing so. 



I was down-cast. I had hoped to get 

 some eggs without incurring loss to myself. 

 Hut there was no use in arguing, so i said 

 to the man; "How much would vou ask 

 to go up to the nests and see if there are a- 

 uy eggs?" 



"Two dollars a tree," said he, putting 

 his hands in his p< ckets, and fumbling abotit 



