•J V 
11 
from the orifice w ith a penknife (fig. 15), by which means not only is 
the removal of the contents, but also the subsequent cleansing ol the 
specimen, facilitated. The small end ol a blowpipe (figs. 4 and 5) 
should then be introduced, while the other extremity is applied to the 
mouth, and blown through, at first very gently. 11 the embryo is 
Fig. 18. Fig. 19. 
found to be moderately developed a stream of water should be intro¬ 
duced by means of a syringe (fig. 8), and the egg then gently shaken, 
after which the blowpipe may be again resorted to, until by the con¬ 
tinued use of both instruments, aided by scissors (figs. 9 and 10), 
hooks (figs. 11, 12 and 13), knives (figs. 14, 15 and 16), and forceps 
(fig. 17), the contents are completely emptied. Alter this the egg 
should be filled with water from the syringe, gently shaken, and blown 
out, a process which is to be repeated until its interior is completely 
cleansed, when it should be laid upon a pad of blotting paper or fine 
cloth, with the hole downwards, its position on the pad or cloth being 
occasionally changed until it is perfectly dry. During this time it 
should be kept as much as possible from the light, especially from the 
sunshine, as the colours are then more liable to fade than at any sub¬ 
sequent time. Tn the case of very small eggs, when fresh the contents 
may be sucked out by means of a bulbed tube (fig. 6), and the interior 
afterwards rinsed out as before. It is always advisable, as far as pos¬ 
sible, to avoid wetting the outside of the shell, as the action of water 
is apt to remove the “ bloom,” affect the colour, and in some cases 
alter the crystallization of the shell ; consequently dirt stains or dung 
spots should never be removed. While emptying the contents it is as 
well to hold the egg over a basin of water to avoid breakage m case of 
its slipping from the fingers. Should the yelk of the egg be dried up, 
a small portion of carbonate of soda may be introduced (but with great 
care that it does not touch the outer surface of the shell, m which case 
the colour is likely to be affected), and then the egg filled with water 
