Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1860-03-08

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moment, and does not Indicate any pre-
vious unsoundness.
Instructions for Collecting and
Preserving Birds Nests anu
Eggs.
The following details viii be found TO
contain all the instructions necessary 10
the preparations and preservation Of OolO-
gical collections:
The nests Of birds are 10 be sought for
in all localities and in various months OF
the year, according 10 the latitude, May
and June being generally the most pro-
ductive. Many of the rapacious birds,
however, begin to lay much earlier in the
middle States, even N February and
March.
When a nest containing eggs, or one
newly constructed, is discovered. it should
not be disturbed, if possible, before the
parents have been observed lowering
around or near, and thus identified. II
the species cannot be otherwise positive
ly determined, parent bird should be
secured. and either the whole skin be
prepared, or a porlion-as the head or
wing-preserved for identification. The
bird may also be thrown into alcohol, and
thus easily kept
The services of boys and other persons
on farms, plantations, &C., may be called
TO great advantage into requisilion in
collecting eggs. Whenever they have
found nest, however, it should not be
disturbed before information is commu-
uicated to aud the spot visited by some
one competent to determine the species,
unless the parents can be taken with the
nest. No pains should be considered too
great to secure the certain Identification
Of each set of eggs. If this Identification
should be impossible. however. the eggs
should still be preserved, as the species
can usually be approximated to, if not alb
sOIulely determined, by an expert oolOg-
ist.
Sometimes by removing ali the eggs in
a nest, except one or two, without handl-
ing those left, quite large number can
be obtained from one pair Of birds; gen.
orally, however, the nest will be found
abandoned on a second visit.
The nests may not always be removal
bic. In such cases, full mention Of their
position, character, &c, should be care
fully made. Nests constructed in bushes
or on trees usually need but slight pre-
cautions for their preservation intact
Those on the ground often require to be
secured against dropping 10 pieces by a
little judicious tying together, or even by
a few coarse stitches with a thread and
needle.
A little cotton packed in the nest above
the eggs will generally keep the latter
whole until reaching home, unless sub
jecled TO a violent shock. Il will be saf-
er. however. TO enclose each one in an
envelope of cotton.
1t is absolutely necessary, in all cases,
10 empty every egg Of Its contents, in or !
der to preserve the she'll for cabinet pur-
poses; and this shoulG be done at the
earliest moment possible. This is accom-
pliShed in various ways: the simplest.
when the egg does not contain a young
bird, being TO prick small aperture at
each end (or better, perhaps, on opposite
sides, with a sharp needle, "a three
cornered one answers best, one rather
tie larger, through which the contents
are blown by the application Of the mouth |
at the other. Delicate eggs, however,
when fresh. can be best emplied by suC-
ton, small quantity at a time of the
contents being drawn into the mouth, and
then discharged.
Should there be an embryo in the egg.
or should the contents have become thick
ened by long standing, it will be necessa-
ry 10 make larger aperture IN the side
by pricking oul a circular piece Of shell I
carefully with the needle. A similar hole /
may then be made opposite TO tbs, at
which TO apply the mouth in blowing. or
the embryo may be picked out through a
single large hole. II will be of much in
ierest to preserve all embryos in alcohol
for further investigation.
Europeans collectors usually make two
small apertures close 10 each other on one
side, iastead of on opposite sides. The
discharge Of the contents Of the egg Is fa-
;ilitated by the use of a small conical
DlOw-pipe or tube, the smaller end so fine
IS to enter the smaller aperture. A
A stream of water injected by the mouth
through the tube into the aperture viii
be found an expeditions method of emp /
.ying the egg, but it must be conducted
very carefully. When a large hole is
made. the tube may be directed through
i to the opposite side of the egg. and
current of water forced in this wiH soon
discharge the contents. When practical
bic. the white membrane, the edge Of
which usually protrudes from the open
nc after the Iiqnids are forced out.
should be seized with a pair Of forceps
md pulled out, as. If left. II may discolor
he egg, and will always attract insects.
If not 100 small. the egg should then be
'ardy filed with .aGer through the tube