VERTEBRATES. 3 



and shrubs would answer the same purpose, but the writer is 

 not aware of any experiments having been tried. A substitute 

 may be made by taking ordinary wheat flour, placing it in a 

 bag of fine muslin and washing it in running water, aiding the 

 process by squeezing until all the starch is washed out, and 

 only the gluten remains behind. This gluten is an adhesive 

 substance, which is said to answer the purpose well. 



A third formula for bird-lime is to take linseed oil and 

 heat it over a slow fire (carefully watching it to see that it 

 does not burn), until it is very thick, then pour it into cold 

 water. If it should prove too thick, the addition of a little 

 pine tar will readily thin it for use. 



The bird-lime should be smeared on the branches of trees, 

 etc., where birds most do congregate, and by adhering to 

 their feet, it holds them fast, and renders them an easy prey 

 to the collector. 



No matter how procured, all mammals and birds intended 

 for stuffing should have the mouth, nostrils, anus and all 

 wounds, stopped immediately with cotton wool to prevent 

 any soiling of the fur or feathers. It is also well to place each 

 bird head first in a cone made of cartridge paper, before 

 placing in the game bag, as this will prevent disarrangement 

 of the feathers. 



All Vertebrates are really more valuable as alcoholic speci- 

 mens, than they are when mounted after the usual manner of 

 taxidermists, as the naturalist is then able at any time to 

 pursue any desired investigation of their anatomy, a course 

 from which he is utterly debarred with stuffed specimens. 

 Before being placed in spirit, the abdominal walls of all Ver- 



