374 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



The two reference numbers, the name of the collector, 

 the sex, the date and locality, and also the colours of 

 the legs, bill, and iris, and other parts, as caruncles, 

 wattles, &c., which fade considerably soon after death. 



As your skin is drying, it must be looked at from 

 day to day, and any little needful matters attended to. 

 When dry, your specimen should be wrapped in tissue 

 paper, and kept from the light as much as possible. Of 

 course these remarks do not profess to instruct the novice 

 in the art of stuffing birds, but simply in preserving their 

 skins. They are certainly better kept as such, than 

 mounted on a wrong principle, as is the present custom ; 

 and therefore I withhold instructions that would only 

 lead to far from pleasing results. 



I cannot do better than conclude these few remarks 

 on preserving ornithological specimens, by quoting 

 the remarks of Mr. Waterton, when treating with this 

 subject, and I will express the hope that he who makes 

 a practice of collecting and preserving these objects will 

 do so in the spirit of a true naturalist— namely, as one 

 who dislikes to destroy life, and only does so of neces- 

 sity. For should these instructions ' unfortunately tend 

 to cause a wanton expense of life — should they tempt 

 you to shoot the pretty songster warbling near your 

 door, or destroy the mother as she is sitting on the nest 

 to warm her little ones, or kill the father as he is bring- 

 ing a mouthful of food for their support — oh, then ! deep 

 indeed will be the regret that I ever wrote them.' 



