38 THE ART OF REARING 
the eggs; neither too blunt, lest it should crush 
them. The eggs do not stick fast on wet linen. 
When a good quantity of the eggs have been 
scraped off upon the scraper, they should be put 
into a basin, and this is repeated till all the eggs 
are scraped off and put into the same basin. 
Water should then be poured upon the eggs, and 
they should be lightly washed, to separate them 
from each other. The water will be very dirty, 
as the eggs are always more or less soiled with the 
matter deposited by the moth. On the surface of 
the water will be seen floating the shells of a few 
eggs, that have already cast their worms(Chap. V.) ; 
also many yellow eggs, which are those not im- 
pregnated, and others which without being of that 
colour are very light. All those that float should 
be skimmed off directly. If the eggs are collect- 
ed in an unfavourable season, particularly during 
cold weather, many yellow eggs, and even reddish 
ones, will sink to the bottom, although they are not 
impregnated (Chap. IX. and X.) The water hav- 
ing been well stirred, it should be poured into a 
sieve, or upon some cloths, to drain off the eggs. 
The eggs in the sieve, and any that may have 
remained in the water, are then put into another 
basin ; some sound light wine, either red or white*, 
* I have washed the eggs, sometimes with water, and com- 
mon wine, sometimes with pure wine ; hitherto I have not 
been able to observe any difference in the effects of these 
