SCIENTIFIC TAXIDERMY FOR MUSEUMS. 413 



crosses could be obtained, the plan would not be a bad one to devote a 

 few eases to illustrate so important a subject. 



When we come to study the collection of mounted specimens of the 

 Gallime in the ornithological cases of the Smithsonian Institution in 

 the large hall where all the mounted birds are exhibited, we find the 

 same condition of affairs presented to us, as has been described for the 

 other avian groups. Inferiority of work, as a rule, characterizes the 

 older specimens, while real merit marks the most of those that have 

 appeared within comparatively recent times. This appears to have 

 been the case, in so far as the latter kind are concerned, during a period 

 extending over perhaps a twelve month prior to the opening of the 

 World's Columbian Exposition. Some fine work began to make its 

 appearance just then, due apparently to that cause, which was having 

 a similar stimulating infiuence in all quarters, no art or industry being 

 exempt from it. The advances in methods and results was being 

 silently watched by me with a keen interest and appreciation, not to 

 say a feeling of pride and exultation at the genuine gain that was being 

 made in such matters. 



My attention, among other things, was especially drawn towards the 

 group to which allusion has just been made, particularly the American 

 partridges and grouse and their allies. Some of the species of par- 

 tridges that were being mounted and placed in the cases struck me as be- 

 ing more life-like than was common, and I mentally compared them with 

 my recollections of the living species in nature, as well as all the figures I 

 knew of them. As the present paper began to take on form I deter- 

 mined, if possible, to introduce copies of a few photographs of living 

 partridges, and, as has been mentioned on a previous page, the opportu- 

 nity was duly presented. Mr. Smillie was good enough in my presence 

 to make several exposures upon a living specimen of Gainbers partridge, 

 and some of those results are well worthy of publication. They are 

 presented in Plate lix, Fig. 1, and Plate lx. In the first figure the 

 bird had elevated all his feathers just prior to preening himself. This 

 in a way should be compared with the quail shown in Pig. 2, recollect- 

 ing, however, that the living bird is not on the ground and that the 

 mounted one is done with the act of preening and is just about to shake 

 herself. 



In Plate lx the bird was taken as it sat quietly upon a perch, and 

 slightly elevated the feathers at the neck and forepart of the body. It 

 shows that one of the feathers of its plume was broken and hung down 

 below the others and is not a shadow, as might by some be supposed. 

 This figure is a fine model for those whe may desire to mount a par- 

 tridge in this attitude. Although of a different genus, it is interesting 

 to compare this with the partridge shown in Plate lxiii, which is one 

 of the best mounted specimens of a Colt tuts with which I am acquainted. 

 It will be noticed that the slight flatness that naturally exists over the 

 pectoral region is apparent in both the living bird and in the specimen 



