58 ORNITHOLOGIST 
it forceps. See that the wings are even, head 
and feet are in place. In arranging head, for 
scientific purpose, it is preferred to have the bill 
on a line with the back, for mounting, the bill at 
If the bird has a crest, some turn the 
The skin in the cylinder will 
an angle. 
head on one side. 
appear thus: 

Let it remain twenty-four hours; take it out, 
arrange any feathers that may be out of place, 
and once more replace it and let it remain until 
dry. The second way is by the use of a tin form 
—a half cylinder—fastened toa block. A series 
of these tins should be made, varying in size. 
For a Bluebird, cut the tin say 25x5 inches; bend 
it in a semi-circle lengthwise and fasten it with a 
tack toa small block ; arrange the skin in it, on 
its back. This has the advantage over the first 
way, that you can better see the skin to arrange 
it. When in use it will appear thus: 
Ay? 

The third way is to wrap the skin in thin sheets 
of cotton. This latter is claimed to be the best 
when off on collecting trips. _ The skin is finally 
shaped after being wrapped. 
VARIATIONS. 
Some, inst. . of passing the cotton out of the 
beak, wrap it on a small stick. For small birds 
use a toothpick. Then force the point.up into 
the skull. They claim the skull is less liable to 
break at the neck. In the method I have given, 
Ide nd on the wings being tied and then by ar- 
ranging them to dry in shape. Others secure the 
wings by taking a stitch in them through the side 
of the skin, which holds them in place. 
If tin forms are not on hand a substitute may 
be made by taking a board, nailing cleats and 
tacking paper to them—the spaces between the 
cleats being the forms. 
For ducks and large birds, make an excelsior 
body; use a very light head wire; wind the wire 
with cotton, (not too much) and pass the wire up 
through the neck and skull. Zend the head 
back on the body, turning the head on one side ; 
the wings may be pinned in position with small 
[Vol. 11-No. 4 
wires, and the body wound down. A band of 
paper around the body is sufficient. 

In closing this chapter, let me advise that you 
make every skin with the same care that you 
would take if you expected to stuff it yourself. A 
well made skin is as much a :tidy of admira- 
tion as one that isstuffed. The tendency I think 
is now increasing to make collections of skins 
rather than stuffed specimens. Poorly made skins 
are trash and can only be disposed of for millin- 
ery use. 
Label cach specimen, giving sex, date of cap- 
ture and locality. This is indispensable if the 
skin is to be of scientific value. 
SKINS PROPERLY SHAPED. 
[As the determination of sex is 
a very important factor in the 
study of birds, we here quote the 
rule for finding the sexual or- 
gans, as our correspondent has 
not done so in the previous chap- 
ters. ‘ The sex is found by cut- 
ting through the lower ribs on 
one side of the body and pushing 
back the intestines. The testes 
of the male lie in the cavity of 
the spine, where the ribs com- 
mence. They are two in num- 
ber and of a whitish color, though 
in some birds of a dark blue. 
The ovaries of the female are a 
small mass of fine globular struc- 
tures. Thcy are in the same posi 
tion as the testes of the male. In 
the breeding scason both sexes 
are easily determined, but at oth- 
er times a small lens should be 
used for accuracy.” —ED. | 

CHAPTER 1X.—PREPARING BIRDS’ EGGS. 
Lack of space in the present number of the O. 
and O., and the fact that with its issue the egg 
collecting season opens, renders it advisable that 
I confine this article to a condensed rule for pre- 
Drill— 
From the smallest to those suitable for large eggs 
with embryo, fig. 1. Blower—lIt should be either 
nickle plated or German silver—never brass— 
curved, and with a small end, fig. 2. Embryo 
serving. The necessary tools consist of: 
