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BIRDSNESTING
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BIRDSNESTING , a See also:general See also:term for the pursuit of See also:collecting and preserving birds' eggs, with or without the nests themselves. The nests and eggs of See also:wild birds are .nowadays protected by See also:local See also:laws almost everywhere in both See also:Great See also:Britain and the See also:United States. By See also:law they may be taken for scientific purposes only, by See also:special See also:licence. In See also:order not to interfere seriously with breeding it is customary to take but one See also:egg from a See also:nest, and, if the nest itself be taken, to wait until the See also:young birds have See also:left it. Every egg, unless " hard-set," should be blown as soon as removed from the nest. This is done by opening a small hole in its See also:side by means of a See also:drill with a conical See also:head, manufactured for the purpose, a See also:minute hole for the insertion of the drill-head having first been made in the See also:shell with a See also:needle, which is then used to stir up the contents, so that they shall flow easily. A See also:blow-See also:pipe with a curved mouth is then inserted, the egg is held hole downwards, and the contents blown out. The old-fashioned method of making two holes in the egg is thus superseded. Should the egg be " hard-set " a somewhat larger hole is made and its edges reinforced with layers of See also:paper pasted See also:round them. Minute forceps are then introduced and the embryo cut into pieces small enough to pass through the hole. The inside of the egg is then rinsed out with clean See also:water, and also before being placed in the See also:cabinet, with a See also:solution of corrosive sublimate, which prevents decay and consequent discoloration of the inner membrane. Finally the egg is placed with the hole downwards upon a See also:sheet of See also: The authentication of the eggs is the most important See also:duty of an egg-See also:collector, next to identifying the specimens. According to some the best method is to See also:mark with a See also:fine See also:pen on the egg itself the variety, scientific name, locality of nest, date of taking and the See also:initials of the collector, as well as a reference to his See also:note-See also:book or See also:catalogue. Others See also:advocate keeping the authentication See also:separate with only a numbered reference on the egg itself. Eggs should not be transported in See also:bran or sawdust, but in strong See also:wool-lined boxes. The best cabinets are fitted with drawers, pulled out to inspect the eggs, but at other times closed to preserve them from the See also:light, which is injurious to their delicate colouring. When an entire nest is taken it should be disinfected with hypo-sulphite of soda or See also:insect-See also:powder. See Birdnesting and See also:Bird-Skinning, by E. See also:Newman (See also:London, r888) ; The Young Collector's Handbook of See also:British Birds' Nests and Eggs, by W. H. See also:Bath (London, 1888); Birds' Nests, Eggs and Egg-Collecting, by R. Kearton (London, 189o); British Birds' Eggs and Nests, by J. C. See also:Atkinson (London, 1898) ; Nests and Eggs of See also:North See also:American Birds, by Ernest See also:Ingersoll (188o-1881). Additional information and CommentsThere are no comments yet for this article.
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