INTRODUCTION. 23 



minal portion ; observe the plumule, the outline, and tip of 

 the feather itself, and the manner in which it is coloured. 

 Let him count the quills in the wing, take notice of their 

 comparative length, form, and texture. Let him treat the 

 tail in the same manner. Let him then pluck off all the 

 feathers, and observe, by the marks left in the skin, how 

 they have been arranged. The down, which still covers the 

 skin, is now to be submitted to examination ; as well as the 

 small bristles or hair-like feathers. When the bird is thus 

 bared, he will better see its form, and will find that some- 

 times a neck which seemed thick and strong, becomes thin 

 and weak when deprived of its plumage ; that short legs 

 have become long, or a flattened body narrowed. 



The knife and the scissors are now to be used. The skin, 

 with its subjacent fat and cellular tissue, may be next exa- 

 mined. The principal muscles that move the limbs may 

 easily be traced. The eyes may be cut out and inspected. 

 The windpipe will lead him into the thorax, where he will 

 find the lungs. The tongue, the oesophagus, and the sto- 

 mach, afford interesting objects of remark ; as do the other 

 contents of the thoracic and abdominal cavities the intes- 

 tine, liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys ; the heart and 

 pericardium ; the various cellules, permeated by the air 

 which passes through the lungs, and the imperfect dia- 

 phragm ; the ovaries, or other genital organs. 



This superficial examination will disclose some things, 

 and leave many partially understood. By proceeding 

 thus, knowledge will be gained by degrees, doubts will be 

 solved, and errors rectified. A friend, more advanced, may 

 perhaps assist ; or various anatomical works may be con- 

 sulted. The vascular and nervous systems, and the organs 

 of sense, will also require attention. Perhaps the skeleton 

 may be prepared, that its parts may be inspected. This is 

 not a difficult task. Let the soft parts be carefully removed 

 from the bones, which are to be left united by the ligaments. 

 The operation may take several hours of several days. The 



