10 



NATURALISTS ASSISTANT. 



Position of the wings whether supported or hanging, cross- 

 ing on the tail or not. Are they continuous, or covered by 

 the feathers of the back and breast, for the upper half or 

 third or two-thirds of their length? Do their extremities 

 reach the tip of the tail, the half or fourth of its length? 

 Are the heels covered by the feathers of the belly ? 



The skins of mammals and birds prepared according to 

 the foregoing directions are really more valuable for the nat- 

 uralist than the mounted specimens. They may be kept 



systematically arranged in 

 boxes or drawers. Mount- 

 ing mammals and birds is 

 the work of a taxidermist 

 and directions for the op- 

 erations are foreign to the 

 purposes of this work. If 

 it be desired to prepare the 

 specimens for exhibition 

 they had better be sent to 

 the professional taxidermist, as amateur work generally pres- 

 ents a very slovenly appearance. One thing, however, should 

 always be insisted on ; the stands employed should be of the 

 simplest character. For birds the form of stand shown in 

 the adjacent figure is preferable. These stands are usually 

 painted white. For mammals and many aquatic birds a 

 board is all that is necessary. By all means avoid the use 

 of mos^, mica sand, artificial leaves, etc., as they not only 

 afford excellent lurking places for vermin, but also detract 

 greatly from a scientific appearance of the collection ; they 

 and not the specimens attract the eye. 



FIG. i. 



