PRESERVING EGG-SHELLS. 
65 
ON THE PRESERVATION OF EGG-SHELLS 
FOR CABINETS OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
" Si sumas ovum, molle sit, atqiie novum." Schola Salernitana. 
I HAVE been blundering at this work for some 
years; " seeking for something I could not find/' and 
always dissatisfied with myself on account of the fail- 
ure. The object of my search was, to try to find out 
how I could properly dispose of the thin white mem- 
brane next the shell of the egg. When left in, it is 
apt to corrupt ; in which case, the colour of the 
shell will sometimes fade, and an offensive smell is 
produced, which a lapse of years will not subdue. 
Last spring I thought I had succeeded ; but it 
turned out to be a very partial success. I, first, 
by blowing, discharged the contents of five swan's 
eggs, and then immersed the shells in a tub of water 
for a month. This enabled me to pull out the thin 
membrane, by means of a piece of wire bent at the 
end. But I found that the colour of the shell had 
faded considerably. Moreover, the process required 
too much time ; and I saw that there would be great 
^ difficulty in doing small eggs. 
About three weeks ago, a bright thought (a vara 
avis with me) struck me, just as I was in the act of 
climbing up to a hawk's nest. I felt certain that 
every difficulty had vanished, and I began to blame 
myself on the score of former dulness. 
In selecting eggs for your cabinet, always choose 
those which are newly laid. Make a moderately 
sized hole at the sharp end, with a pointed instru- 
ment proportioned to the egg. Thus for a swan's 
