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A set of eggs should always be accompanied by an authenticated 
pedigree in the shape of a data label. The data blank for this should net 
be too large, but should have space enough for the A.O.U. number, set 
mark, number of eggs in set, name of species, locality, date, incubation, 
identification (parents observed, shot, or named by ), nest (situa- 
tion and composition), name of collector, and remarks. The same data 
should also be kept in the collector’s catalogue or record book for future 
reference, as the label always goes wdth each set of eggs if they are sold 
or exchanged. 
In shipping eggs, each egg should be separately wrapped with tissue 
paper or a wisp of thin cotton batting, and each set of small eggs placed 
in a separate container — a pasteboard box or a tin of proper size, or in a 
larger box with partitions, and enough loose filling to keep the eggs in 
place. Large eggs should, if possible, be wrapped and packed in individual 
compartments, similar to those used in shipping hens’ eggs to market. They 
are usually worth more per dozen than hens’ eggs and the collector should 
be willing to take proper care of them. Each nest should be wrapped 
separately, with plenty of thread to keep it from falling apart. 
Egg collections are usually kept in cabinet drawers, with each set or 
nest in a shallow pasteboard tray. Loose cotton is rather springy and the 
eggs may bounce out when the drawers are pulled out. So it is best to 
line the trays with a section of layer cotton cut to proper size. Many 
collectors prefer to use medium fine sawdust in preference to cotton wool 
as bedding in trays, but freshly blown eggs should not be placed on saw- 
dust as the grains of saw r dust are apt to stick and the eggshell may break 
when sawdust is being removed. The eggs may be kept from rolling by bits 
of cotton at the sides. In museum collections sets of eggs are frequently 
kept in pasteboard boxes with glass covers of proper size. Egg collections 
should not be exposed to daylight more than necessary, as they fade 
rapidly. Nests that are lined with hair or feathers are subject to attacks 
of insect pests and must be fumigated and cared for in the same way 
as skins. 
