28 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR STUDY. 



lation into the desired shape. No specific directions 

 can be given here ; this part of the process, upon 

 which so much of the comeliness of the specimen de- 

 pends, must be learned by practice. The usual fault 

 of beginners is in using altogether too much stuffing, 

 and in making the skin "bulge out" in the wrong 

 places, especially between the shoulders and along the 

 neck. The specimen is usually meant to lie upon its 

 back, with the head drawn near the body. Care should 

 be taken, therefore, that the neck-cylinder of cotton 

 be neither too long nor too thick, and that most of the 

 elasticity of the stuffing shall expend itself in making 

 the breast plump. Particularly, there should be little 

 if any stuffing along the back between the shoulders. 

 The general run of small birds may be stuffed nearly 

 or quite to the natural size never beyond it ; but 

 large birds usually are best left flattened to a consider- 

 able degree. The specimen being arranged to suit, it 

 should be labelled by tying the label to the crossed 

 legs, and be put away to dry, being placed either in a 

 cylinder of stiff paper or a bed of .cotton, or otherwise 

 so fixed as to retain the shape given. After thorough 

 drying, it may be quite closely packed for transporta- 

 tion, if desired, without material injury ; but it should 

 not be subjected to much pressure while still moist. 



The contents of the crop or gizzard may be exam- 

 ined to ascertain the nature of the bird's food, and the 

 result be recorded either in the note-book or on the 

 label itself. The body in most cases should also be 

 examined to make sure of the sex of the specimen. 

 The testes of the male and the ovaries of the female 

 lie in the same position in the small of the back, close 

 to the kidneys, and may easily be reached by cutting 



