Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-16
WILD BIRDS EGGS.
How the Collector Gathers Them I'm
der Difficulties.

How the Collector Gathers Them I'm
der Difficulties.
Wild and uninhabited regions are poor
places to collect eggs. according to the testi-
mony Of ornithologists. Mr.. Ernest Inger-
soil. well-known expert in this branch of
science, calls attention to the fact that birds
generally are to be found near to the abodes
OF man. In places not far from human hab-
itations there is usually a good supply of
food. as well as shelter from enemies So it
happens that the smaller feathered creatures
particularly make themselves neighbors of
mankind; building their nests rearing their
young. and obtaining their sustenance in
and about the roadside, orchard and garden
instead of seeking the lonely shades of the
forests. OF course, exceptions to this general
rule are to be found in the sea-fowl the wild
and fierce hawks. and some marsh birds
the last by nature exceedingly erernite and
solitary. F9h'- ~ ~
Thus 1t happens that the collector of eggs
does not have to explore the deserts and
other lonely lands in order to supply mater
ial for his cabinet. The birds who's nests
ne seeks to rob are mostly discovered near
az hand. True, he must often exert much
ingenuity to find certain varieties. A meth
cd sometimes adopted is to put in some
place where 1t can be easily seen a bunch
OF hay. or straw. or cotton, watching 1t to
observe whittier the fowls of the air which
come to II for nest making stuff wing their
| nests
when found are very difficult to reach This
Is the case with some of the sea birds which
make their homes in the vertical faces of
clins. Usually these cliffs overhang the surf
as to be hopelessly inaccessible from below
Then 1t Is question Of getting at the eggs
from above, which Is often a matter Of
great difficulty and danger.
Quite a number of egg collectors have lost
their lives in trying to rob nests in the
faces Of lofty seaward cliffs. Commonly
rope Is employed for making the descent
from the summit of such a crag. To at
tempt that sort Of thing alone and unassist-
ed Is extremely perflous. The rope is apt to be
frayed through by the rock, so as to precip-
itate the adventurous climber to the bottom
The best way to get over this dificulty Is to
rig sort Of pulley at the edge of the cliff
through which the rope may run. This is
troublesome. but 1t pays when valuable
specimens reward the effort. Any one who
understands the business will make sure to
have at least one companion with him. and
the person lowered should always be secure
ly fastened to the rope. lest a fit of dizziness
such as may attack the most experienced
individual. should render him helpless and
unable to hold on.
biologists nowadays usually take the nests
as well as the eggs The former are deemed
important as exhibiting the work of the
birds. In their construction the ingenuity
Of the feathered creatures is chiefly exhib-
tied. Besides. the structure of them Is most
interesting. What can surpass." says an
birds home. glued to a messy branch or
nesting in the point of a pendant leaf; the
vireo's silken hammock; the orioles grace
fully swaying purse; the blackbird's model
basket in the flags; the snug little caves of
the marsh wrens; the hermit huts Of the
SLY wagtails, or the stout fortresses Of
sociable swallows?
Nests that are built in trees and bushes
are best secured by saving off the branches
to which they are attached. For this pur-
pose the collector carries knife with a saw
blade. The nest should never be detached
from the branch on which it has been built
Nests Of other kinds. such as are constructed
on the ground, may have to be tied together
with string before they are taken away. lest
they be broken. The swallow and the phoebe
bird make their nests of mud, and these
must be fitted tightly into boxes, to keep
them from crumbing. In order that nests
may not be destroyed by insects or decay
1t Is very necessary that they shall be sub
tected to a process Of disnfection before
they are put away. One way to do this is
to put the nest in box perforated with a
few pin holes, together with a small sponge
saturated with carbolic acid. Another meth
cd is to blow the nest full of Persian insect
powder. which may be blown out again
after a few hours.
The eggs. II they are fresh. should be
emptied Of their contents as soon as they
are taken. They can be carried more safely
when empty. If they contain embryos
however. this should not be attempted. In
old times eggs were commonly blown by
breaking hole at each end, taking out the
contents. and stringing the shells for orna-
ments. The oologtst does not approve Of
depriving birds of their eggs for such
frivolous purpose. Moreover, he makes only
one hole In each egg, and that on the side
Thus the egg can rest on that side in a box
or on tray, appearing as If whole. The
tools employed to make the hole are little
steel drills such as are used by dentists.
After the contents have been taken out the
shell is rinsed thoroughly and dried by lay
ing 1t. hole downward. on a blotting pad or
folded towel
Simpler methods will serve IL pains be
taken. Mr.. Ernest Ingersoll says: Scores
of times have sat down under the tree
where 1 have found birds nest and have
blown the eggs nicely with no better instru-
ments than a needle and hollow stem of
ripe grass, the latter making a very good
blow pipe Small, fresh eggs do not OBJ
ject to sucking directly, lying on my back
and letting the egg rest between my lips
guarding It with care against contact with
the teeth Whatever bad taste remains in
the mouth is quickly got rid of by a morsel
of candy or spice, which can be carried in
the pocket for this purpose.
MY remarks apply to fresh eggs Those
containing embryoS present difficulties re-
curing the help Of instruments to empty
and preserve them Eggs long sat upon are
more easily blown by being kept a few days.
but the operation must not be deferred too
long, or they may burst violently on being
punctured. Egg shells grow more brittle
toward the time of Matching. Well formed
embryos cannot be got through any hole
that can be made In the she'll They must
be extracted piecemeal by means of minia-
ture scissors, knives and forceps, the un-
Matched bird being cut to pieces before TAX
ing it out"
PrOclamatiOns to the Dead.
From the st. Catharines Star.
There have been delivered to certain per-
sons through the post office during the past
week notices which, aside from their
l