DISSECTING AND LABELLING SPECIMENS. 29 



through the wall of the abdomen on one side, and 

 pushing the intestines out of the way. The testes of 

 the male are a pair of whitish or yellowish bodies lying 

 close together. The -ovary is a flattened mass of small 

 spheres. In the breeding season, both these organs 

 are subject to such enlargement that they become very 

 conspicuous, and they differ so much in appearance 

 that they cannot be mistaken ; but at other times of 

 the year they can only be recognized upon close ex- 

 amination, especially in the cases of small birds. The 

 organs of a cock sparrow, for example, are as large as 

 peas in May, though no bigger than a pin's head when 

 not in action. The ripe ovary of a female bird is even 

 more conspicuous. To denote the male sex, the sign 

 for Mars ( $ ) is used ; that for Venus ( 9 ) being em- 

 ployed in the other case. 



The labelling of specimens is an important matter, 

 which should never be neglected, or even postponed. 

 It is to be done at once on the completion of the oper- 

 ation of stuffing. Besides the items already indicated, 

 the label should bear a number corresponding to one 

 in the note-book, where all the information given upon 

 the label should be duplicated, with any additional 

 observations which the collector may desire to record. 



Skins prepared in the manner indicated are to be 

 preserved in the drawers of the cabinet for the purposes 

 of study : they answer all the requirements of science. 

 Should it be desired to mount them, however, they 

 may be relaxed at any time by the application of moist- 

 ure. It is not always possible to prevent the plumage 

 from being soiled by the blood, grease, or other fluids 

 of the body ; but most such stains can be effaced by 

 thorough washing with clean water and drying with 



