16 THE NATURALIST'S GUIDE. 



SO that unless the snow is frozen in winter they are of no 

 use. These moccasons can be jDrocured almost anywhere 

 in Maine and New Hampshire, and sometimes in Boston. 

 They are manufactured mostly in Canada. For clothes, 

 perhaps the best that can be worn in summer is a suit 

 of fine canvas of some dark color, to correspond with the 

 foliage; in winter, white, to correspond with the snow; 

 in both cases the wearer is less conspicuous, and can ap- 

 proach his game much more readily. This cloth will not 

 wear out or tear easily, and is every w^ay fitted for travel- 

 ling in the woods. 



I would next call attention to making stands on which 

 to put birds after they have been mounted, as one of the 

 necessities of the cabinet. Simple stands in the form of 

 the letter T (Plate VIII. Fig. 3, f) are generally wanted. 

 Any carpenter can make them. Different sizes will be 

 needed, from one with the standard two inches high with a 

 cross-piece one inch long, to a foot standard with a six-inch 

 cross-piece, with bottoms to match. If made of pine, these 

 stands may be painted white, of a very pure unchanging 

 color, in the following manner. Buy white zinc at thirty 

 cents per pound, and nice frozen glue at from twenty-five 

 to thirty cents per pound ; dissolve the glue thoroughly in 

 hot water, then strain ; to a pint and a half of water use a 

 quarter of a pound of glue, to this add one pound of zinc, 

 stir well, with the vessel that contains it in boiling water, 

 then, with a brush, apply to the stands ; put on two coats. 

 If the paint has a yellowish cast, put in a few drops of 

 bluing; it will change it at once. Thus you will find 

 that you have a nice white coat of paint that will remain 

 unchanged longer than oil colors. Any other color can be 

 used, if preferred, in the same manner. 



Fancy stands are made in the following way. For mossy 

 stands, select a wooden bottom of suitable shape and size, — 

 those with the edges bevelled are generally used, — and 



