466 
PREPARING BIRDS’ EYES. 
Before winding the bird cut five small pieces of wire ; then take a file and make a 
point on one end of each piece, and on the other end of each piece make with pliers a 
hook, like those shown in illustration (VIII). Insert three of these wires in a line 
down the centre of the back, and the other two in the middle line of the breast. 
When this is done take specimen in one hand, hold the thread, which is first fastened 
to one of the projecting wires, between the thumb and finger of the other hand, and 
wind the feathers down by drawing the thread lightly, so as not to disturb the feath¬ 
ers. Tie, tack or pin toes down while the bird is drying. When the bird is dry, cut 
thread off, take out hooks and cut off ends of wires that project from head, wings 
and tail. 
How to Prepare Birds’ Eggs. 
Birds’ eggs have no scientific or money value unless all doubt regarding their 
identity, ?. e. name of species, is removed. To have a collection of eggs whose au¬ 
thenticity cannot be questioned, the collector should not take simply the eggs, but 
also the nests, unless the latter are too bulky, or they are made up of materials that 
cannot be suitably preserved. The parent birds should also be secured with their 
nests and eggs. Whenever there is the least shadow of doubt about the identity of 
a nest and eggs, don’t under any circumstance take them until at least one of the 
birds has been taken. If the birds elude observation when you discover their home, 
secrete yourself and watch until you capture one or both of them. Small birds 
sometimes can be captured by placing snares made of fine wire or horse-hair in and 
around their nests ; they can also be caught with bird-lime. 
The following instruments are required for blowing eggs : Drills and blow-pipes 
of different sizes, scissors with thin slender blades and acute points, light spring 
forceps, a small syringe and small hooks of various sizes. Of these the drill and 
blow-pipe (Fig. 1, page 454) are indispensable ; and many eggs, particularly when 
fresh, can be blown without the use of any other instruments. The presence of em¬ 
bryos, especially if well developed, often renders it necessary to use all the instru¬ 
ments above mentioned, and you must also make the holes considerably larger than 
would be done if the eggs were fresh. 
Eggs should be blown with a single hole on the side, and not with two holes; 
always make the opening on one side, never at either end. The eggs of small birds, 
or others with very delicate shells, can be strengthened before removing their con¬ 
tents by pasting over them a thin layer of tissue paper. To blow an egg hold it in 
one hand over a basin of water and pierce the shell with a needle-point, then take 
the drill and bore, by twirling drill gently between thumb and finger, a small cir¬ 
cular hole. When this is done insert a small piece of wire or hook and break up the 
contents of the egg, and if the opening is sufficiently large insert end of blow-pipe in¬ 
side of the shell, or hold it to the opening and blow slowly and not too vigorously until 
the contents come out. Always hold the egg with the hole downward so the con¬ 
tents will escape freely. When the egg is emptied, wash the shell out with water, 
which can be introduced with a syringe or by taking a mouthful and forcing it into 
the egg through the blow-pipe. Remove embryos, particularly if well developed, 
by cutting them in pieces with scissors, and take out the pieces, one at a time, with 
hooks or forceps. With every set of eggs or “clutch ” the following data should be 
kept: Name of species, date and locality, collector’s number and the number of eggs 
in the set. 
