Guide to Taxidermy 35 



The Sexes of Birds 



Every label should, without fail, have the sex of 

 the specimen marked upon it. Scientists of all 

 nations are agreed upon the signs that designate 

 sexes. These are c? for male, and ? for female, 

 these being the symbols respectively of Mars and 

 Venus. Young birds or animals are designated by 

 yg. following the symbol, or by juv., from the 

 Latin, juvenus, meaning young; this latter is the 

 better form. 



The sex of mammals is never in doubt, while that 

 of birds often is and should be accurately deter- 

 mined. The male and female of many species 

 differ greatly in plumage, but in such cases the 

 young birds of either sex very strongly resemble 

 the female and an examination is necessary to de- 

 termine the sex. The distinguishing masculine 

 organs are the testicles, while those of the female 

 are the ovaries. Both these organs lay in approxi- 

 mately the same positions, namely in the belly near 

 the small of the back. These organs vary greatly 

 in size at different seasons of the year, during the 

 breeding season being large and readily recognized 

 while at other times they may be very small, some- 

 times requiring a magnifying glass to distinguish 

 them. 



