The Artistic Grouping of Stuffed Birds. 97 
when the bark is used in very small flakes or pieces, 
and the joins are properly concealed with lichens and 
moss, it looks as solid as a piece of the actual 
tree trunk ; and the work has this great advantage— 
it weighs but little. When once the technical 
difficulties are conquered, the amateur usually has a 
great advantage over the professional, for he spends 
much more time on his subject, and works on until 
he has obtained a resemblance to nature. The work 
of the professional, as a rule, has little artistic merit, 
and to set up a bird in its natural surroundings 
successfully, this is undoubtedly required. Birds 
which have been cased by professionals are 
almost invariably surrounded with grasses, bulrushes, 
and ferns, mixed up together in the most incon- 
gruous way, and in utter defiance of the laws of 
nature, whilst to set up a group naturally, the 
greatest possible care must be used to prevent any 
combination, which would be contrary to these laws. 
The birds must be in the right plumage—many 
birds are totally different in summer and winter; 
the nest must be in a natural position; the leaves or 
flowers must be in the stage of growth corresponding 
with the time of year at which the bird builds, and a 
great many other minor details must be carefully 
attended to. And here let us say a word for 
photography as an aid to the naturalist. A note 
