54 
THE NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL. 
Nests require a good deal more room than the eggs alone and 
for these I prefer shallow cardboard boxes, which are at once 
handy, light and cheap. Before storing nests they should go 
through a process of cleansing or fumigation, to destroy all 
insect life which may lie concealed in them. Thoroughly 
dusting them through with “insect powder ” will be found to 
answer very well. Should the collector have plenty of accom¬ 
modation, he might separate the eggs from the nests and thus 
ensure greater safety; but if not, he will do well to wrap each egg 
separately in a small piece of cotton wool and place it in its 
proper nest, together with a short description of the eggs, 
nest, &c. 
Until the collector has had some experience he will be unable 
to name his own eggs, and will necessarily have to call in some 
older oologist to his rescue ; in the meantime he may possess 
himself of a good work on the subject and try to study out eggs 
for himself. About the best book now in the market for all 
classes of oologists is, “ British Birds’ Eggs and Nests ” by 
F. H. Butler, containing several hundred coloured illustrations 
of eggs. A very handy book for the pocket of every collector 
(whether large or small, rich or poor) is, “ Birdsnesting ” by M. 
Christy, price i -. In conclusion I would ask and advise every 
person interested in our birds to extend their sympathies abroad, 
and give their knowledge freely to those who are as yet 
ignorant of the pleasure and profit which may both be obtained 
at little cost in the field of Nature. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
( The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents). 
Killing Reptiles for Preservation. 
Can any reader of the Naturalists’ Journal tell me the 
easiest and most merciful way of killing frogs, snakes, etc., for 
preserving in spirits ? (Miss) L. Edwards. 
A White Starling. 
While going through a field in order to get on to Skyreburn 
(a small stream which runs past the now ruined village of 
Kippletringan, famous in Sir Walter Scott’s novel “ Guy 
Mannering ”), I flushed a flock of starlings. Taking out my 
glass to have a look at them, I was much surprised to find that 
one was a pure albino and without the slightest trace of a single 
dark feather. The same evening while passing the farmhouse 
of Borland, I was pleased to observe a sparrow, beautifully 
speckled with white feeding with others in the stackyard. 
Dumfries. H. Mack ay. 
