THE SCIENTIST. 
59 
greenish hue are imnatural. I broke one 
of them to decide what caused the color 
and found the inside of the shells cover- 
ed with a thick blue mould. Will some one 
tell me how to remove this? I also have 
a set of Moui-nln<^ Dove e%^^ that are in 
the same condition. I have removed all 
the eggs that are moulded from among 
the others and am trying to cleanse them, 
but so far am unsuccessful. 1 must add 
the Short-eared Owl to the list a|)pear- 
ing in Jan. Scientist, as one was killed 
near here List week. I saw a llock of 
]^)bins Jan. 20th, prett}^ early for this 
local it3\ 
Haiul Protectors. 
By Puor. Edwin Walters, Kansas 
City. 
The first imi)lement to which attention 
is called is denominated in the govern- 
for some two years in scientific work, 
has reached the conclusion that this 
article was used under the handle or 
bail of buckets or ^ other vessels, as M-ell 
as that of bundles, as a protector of the 
hand of the carrier. In ancient time, 
as is well known, ropes of rawhide or of 
fibre were used for handles. The wood- 
en hand protectors or modern bails are 
generally cyclindrical and have a hole 
through them longitudinally in which 
the bail is inserted. 
These ancient protectors are semi cy- 
lindrical and the bail rested on the Hat 
surface, the rounded side being modified 
to tit the curves of the inside of the 
hand. Figures 1 and 2 show the exact 
size of one of these implements. No. 1 
shows the liat surface and No. 2 the 
rounded surface. These implements 
almost always show two shallow holes 
on the flattened surface as shown in 
figure 1. These holes were probably for 
the purpose of receiving one end of short 
ment and other report as a^twine twister^' pieces of fish bone or other substances- 
or boat shaped article " etc. Nonj of the other end being inserted in the raw- 
the pr.blished works give a satisfactory hide or other bail material. This ar- 
explanation of the probable use of this rangement would prevent the bails slip- 
article. Mr. T. J. Tidswell of Independ- ping on the protector, 
ence, Mo., who was associated with me I have seen Indians use hand protectors 
