MISCELLANEOUS PARTICULARS. 45 



of attitude and appropriate imitation of the birds' natural surroundings are to be secured. A 

 miniature tree, on wliich a number of birds may be placed, is readily made. Take stout wire, 

 and by bending it, and attaching other pieces, get the framework of the tree of the desired size, 

 sliape, and number of perches. Wrap it closely with tow to a proper calibre, remembering 

 tliat the two forks of a stem must be together only about as large as the stem itself. Gather 

 a basket full of lichens and tree moss ; reduce them to coarse powder l)y rubbing with the 

 liands ; besmear the whole tree with mucilage or thin glue, and sift the lichen powder on it till 

 the tow is completely hidden. This produces a very natural effect, which may be heightened 

 by separately affixing larger scraps of lichen, or little bunches of moss ; artificial leaves and 

 flowers 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 flat 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 colors. 

 Such a lot of birds is generally enclosed in a cylindrical glass case with arched top. As it 

 stands on a table to be viewed from different points, it must be presentable on all sides. A 

 niche in parlor 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, supported 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 orna- 

 mental collections, labels or other scientific machinery must be rigorously suppressed. 



Transportation of mounted birds offers obvious difficulty. Unless 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 without touching each other. Or, they may be carefully packed 

 in cotton, with or without removal of the stands. Their preservation from accidental injury 

 depends upon the same care that is bestowed upon ordinary fragile ornaments of the parlor. 

 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 must never be neglected. 

 For altliough many l)irds show unequivocal sexual distinctions of size, shape, and color, like 

 tliose of the barnyard cock and hen for instance, yet the outward characteristics are more 

 frequently obscure, if not altogether inappreciable, on examination of the skin alone. Young 

 birds, moreover, are usually indistinguisliable as to sex, although the adults of the same species 

 may be easily recognized. The rule results, that the sexual organs should be examined as the 

 only infallible indices. The essential organs of masculinity are the testicles ; similarly, the 

 ovaries contain the essence of the female nature. However similar the accessory sexual struc- 

 tures may be, the testicles and ovaries are always distinct. The male organs of birds never 

 leave the cavity of the belly to fill an external bag of skin (scrotum) as they do among 

 mammalia ; they remain within the abdomen, and lie in the same position as the ovaries 

 of the female. Both these organs are situated in the belly ojiposite wliat corresponds to the 



