TAXIDERMY. 69 



parts would destroy the tarsi, and make the scales 

 fall off: it is not necessary to sew up the opening; 

 we only bring the parts together. 



Opls. 



Nocturnal birds may be killed flying in the even- 

 ing ; by day we find them asleep in steeples, grana- 

 ries, old towers, &c. We often see the " Great" 

 and " Small Duke," and other species, on the large 

 branches of leafy trees, in the hollows of the trunks, 

 at the bottom of small caverns formed by steep 

 rocks. 



When we skin birds of this genus, we must take 

 many precautions to pass the head into the neck. It 

 is generally very large, and we must assist it by 

 forcing off the skin with the thumb nails. The suit- 

 able attitude for this genus is upright, the neck very 

 short, the beak touching the neck, the legs stretched^ 

 and die exterior finger directed outwards. 



Birds of Paradise. 



See the paragraph on the manner of mounting 

 birds feather by feather. 



Climbing Birds, (Gr impairs qfCuvier.} 

 Amongst the Passeres there are some birds who 

 have a habit of climbing trees, and along the 



