184 TAXIDERMY. 



tail to place it in a paper, of the form of a hollow 

 - cone. 



Birds are skinned like quadrupeds, and we take 

 care to preserve the feet and head with the same 

 precaution ; but they should be more immediately 

 skinned, because when putrefaction takes place, the 

 feathers fall off. In cutting the skin we take care 

 to scatter the feathers, that they may not be soiled. 

 We leave the os coccygis (plate 2, c) with the 

 skin, otherwise the feathers of the tail would be 

 liable to fall off; we must also leave the bones at 

 the extremity of the wings. If the bird have a fleshy 

 crest, the head must be preserved in spirits. When 

 tli ere are several of the same species, it will be always 

 useful to send one of them entire in this liquor. 

 It is desirable, if possible, to procure at the same 

 time, the male and female, and individuals of the 

 same species, of different ages ; for birds alter niuch 

 according to their age : there are several who have 

 even been taken for different species. It is also 

 ve 1 y useful to have the nests and eggs. To pre- 

 .seive- the eggs, we make a little hole at one end, 

 empty it, and then fill it up again with wax. The 

 skeletons of those birds too large to be put in spirits, 

 should also be sent. 



It is useless to stuff birds. They would occupy 

 too much room, and this operation, which cannot 

 be done well by any one who is not experienced 



