68 FIELD ORNITHOLOGY part i 



may be added at your taste. The groundwork may be similarly 

 prepared with a bit of board, made adhesive and bestrewn with the 

 same substance ; grasses and moss may be added. If a fiat surface 

 is not desired, soak stout pasteboard till it can be moulded in 

 various irregular elevations and depressions ; lay it over the board 

 and decorate it in the same way. Rocks may be thus nicely 

 imitated, with the addition of powdered glass of various colours. 

 Such a lot of birds is generally enclosed in a cylindrical glass case 

 Avith arched top. As it stands on a table to be viewed from 

 different points, it must be presentable on all sides. A niche in 

 parlour or study is often fitted with a wall -case, which, when 

 artistically arranged, has a very pleasing effect. As such cases may 

 be of considerable size, there is opportunity for the display of 

 great taste in grouping. A place is not to be found for a bird, but 

 a bird for the place, — waders and swimmers below on the ground, 

 perchers on projecting rests above. The surroundings may be 

 prepared by the methods just indicated. One point deserves atten- 

 tion here : since the birds are only viewed from the front, they 

 may have a " show-side '' to which everything else may be sacrificed. 

 Birds are represented flying in such cases more readily than under 

 other circumstances, supjjorted on a concealed wire inserted in the 

 back of the case. I have seen some very successful attempts to 

 represent a bird swimming, the duck being let down part way 

 through an oval hole in a plate of thick glass, underneath which 

 were fixed stuffed fishes, shells, and seaweed. It is hardly necessary 

 to add that in all ornamental collections, labels or other scientific 

 machinery must be rigorously suppressed. 



Transportation of mounted birds offers obvious difficulty. Un- 

 less very small, they are best secured immovably inside a box by 

 screwing the foot of the stands to the bottom and sides, so that 

 they stay in place Avithout touching each other. Or, they may be 

 carefully packed in cotton, Avith or Avithout removal of the stands. 

 Their preservation from accidental injury depends upon the same 

 care that is bestowed upon ordinary fragile ornaments of the 

 parlour. The ravages of insects are to be prevented upon the 

 principles to be hereafter given in treating of the preservation of 

 birdskins. 



§ 8.— MISCELLANEOUS PARTICULARS 



Determination of Sex. — This is an important matter, which 

 should never be neglected. For although many birds show un- 

 equivocal sexual distinctions of size, shape, and colour, like those of 



