OF NATURAL HISTORY. 149 



as a precaution in such cases, powdered camphor may be 

 sprinkled between them. 



It is well here to mention that there are certain necessary 

 precautions to be observed under this as well as under 

 the succeeding heads. The animal selected, if there is a 

 choice, should be well developed — of an adult a^e (the young 

 also when the age is known are useful,) should have all the 

 parts which furnish characteristics to the species perfect, the 

 skin free from abrasions and from spots of blood and dirt. 

 These last may with care be removed, and if the animal be a 

 scarce one and it be desirable on that account to preserve it, 

 some of these defects may be remedied by artificial means. 



BIRDS. 



The last paragraph though applicable to all animals, is 

 peculiarly so to birds. These should be preserved in full 

 plumage, and having the feathers of the wings and tail as 

 perfect as possible. * 



Taking hold of the feet of the bird and permitting the head 

 to hang downward, gently compress the abdomen and neck, 

 so as to empty the stomach and craw of any fluid matter they 

 may contain, and then fill the throat with cotton. Separate the 

 feathers of the abdomen carefully along the middle of the 

 body and commencing a little above the lower edge of the 

 breast-bone, make an incision large enough to take the body 

 out, which by practice may be accomplished through a very 

 small opening, which is preferable. In making the incision 

 it must be remembered that the skin of birds is generally very 

 thin, and care should be taken not to penetrate the muscles of 

 the abdomen or viscera. The incisions may also be made under 

 one of the wings, which is thought by many to be a much 

 more convenient place, and it is certainly better concealed 

 than in the former. The skinning is continued to the legs, 



*In shooting birds for the purpose of stuffing them very small shot 

 should be used, and in very small loads. A quantity of cotton should be 

 provided to fill both the throat and the wound. The latter if very 

 small may be dusted with pov\rdered rosin or chalk, which will absorb the 

 blood and prevent its soiling the plumage. Each specimen ought to be 

 separately wrapped in soft paper and deposited in a basket, as the usual 

 game bag is very liable to break the feathers and distort the bird. 



