CHAPTER XXXII. 

 GROUPS* OF BIRDS AND REPTILES. 



THE principles which underlie the production of successful 

 groups of birds are precisely the same as those which have 

 already been set forth under the head of " Groups of Small 

 Mammals." In addition, however, there is another which should 

 be kept constantly in mind, viz., to guard against the tempta- 

 tion to permit the accessories of a group to completely over- 

 shadow, and, I might say, overwhelm, the specimens themselves. 

 Be careful to make the birds conspicuous, and to avoid the ap- 

 pearance of an exhibit of artificial plants and flowers, instead of 

 mounted birds. 



Of course each species must be represented by itself in a case 

 which shall contain its nest, displaj^ed in the identical bough, 

 or bunch of grass, or hole in the bank which it occupied when 

 found by the collector. Except when a nest is situated in a 

 bank of earth, the collector should cut a square section out of 

 nature, of the proper dimensions for casing, and convey bodily 

 the nest and its situation to the museum. Occasionally cir- 

 cumstances will prevent this, when it becomes necessary to col- 

 lect the nest and the material surrounding it, so that with their 

 aid the situation of the nest can be built up in the laboratory. 



The finest groups of birds to be found in this country are 

 those in the American Museum of Natural History in New York, 

 which are the work of Mr. Jenness Richardson.. At present 

 (1891) the series consists of groups composed almost wholly of 

 species found in the State of New York. Each group, except in 

 a few instances, occupies a light, iron-framed case by itself, and 

 stands on an ebonized table-base, raised on legs about eighteen 

 inches from the floor. The frame-work of the case, and the 

 wood work of the base is painted black. When the home of 



