HINTS FOR ORNITHOLOGICAL TRAVELLERS. 
The nidification of birds is an important portion of their economy, 
and the nests and eggs form interesting additions to a collection. 
Some of the former, from their size and loose structure, are difficult 
to transport, and a memorandum regarding them may suffice; but 
many of the smaller species build structures of extreme beauty and 
neatness, which can be transmitted without any great trouble or 
expense. These should be brought home attached to the branch or 
twig supporting them ; and, when packed, should have some soft 
substance put inside to prevent them being squeezed together. The 
eggs should be blown on the spot when taken from the nest: it 
lessens their liability to be broken; and the collector should, if 
possible, be provided in his rambles with a few tin boxes, for the 
purpose of carrying the more delicate in his bag or basket. They 
may be blown either from two holes, the one a little upon the lower 
side ; or the contents may he emptied, if they are too far incubated, 
from a larger hole on the one side. Before laying aside or packing, 
the inside should be rinsed out with a weak solution of corrosive 
sublimate, which prevents or destroys mites or other insects. The 
name of the species should be written on each egg, with a number 
referring to it in the memorandum book. The outside of the egg 
should never be coated over with gum or varnish. 
The specimens having been properly prepared and thoroughly 
dried, it still remains to keep them safely until a sufficient store has 
been got to form a parcel, and to pack them well and carefully for 
travelling ; for all the labour of a long season may be lost by care- 
lessness of packing, or by tumbling them loose into some box, in 
vhich the rolling of a ship, or the admission of sea- water, may 
reduce the bird-skins into a bundle of felt. The most important 
precautions are, to dry the skins sufficiently, and to keep them in a 
place as well aired as circumstances will admit, until ready to be 
sent off. In warm countries, however, this is frequently very diffi- 
cult, from the depredations of ants, cockroaches, and the larvm of 
some coleoptera ; and strong cases, with well fitted lids, are indis- 
pensab e. Various spices, intermixed with the specimens, are used 
wi h advantage. In this country we have found pounded hellebore 
camnhor or TI ( but ^agreeable assistant); hut 
camphor, or any of the aromatic oils, are the best the latter or 
^Sr^r CUl t ly ° bn0Xi ° US t0 insects ; -id turpentine, 
10 leC ‘ lfied> may be without injury to the feathers. 
