94 Forest Birds. 



lasting properties of natural materials, when they 

 are properly preserved, and kept in air-tight cases. 

 All the wood in the numerous beautiful cases at 

 South Kensington is the "real thing." We know 

 from the best authority that some of the pieces of 

 wood containing nests were in a bad state of decay 

 when obtained, and that in one instance (the 

 Crested Tit) the tree was falling to pieces, and 

 actually crumbled when touched ; but now, by means 

 of clever preserving with liquid glass, gum, and 

 other materials, these pieces of wood, although they 

 still have the appearance of a decaying tree, are 

 likely to last for centuries. 



The method employed in our great National 

 Museum for obtaining the contents of the cases, 

 and the after part, which is quite as important, viz., 

 the setting up of the groups, is calculated to give 

 the most natural, and therefore, as a rule, the most 

 artistic results. Some landed proprietor, perhaps, 

 sends word to the authorities at the museum that he 

 has on his estate a pair of birds, nest and eggs, or 

 young, of some particular species, of which the 

 museum is in need. Collectors are then sent to the 

 spot, and they obtain the nest and eggs, or the 

 young, and the two parent birds. The immediate 

 surroundings of the nest are also taken, even the 

 very grass or reeds in which it was situated, and 



