10 NATURALISTS’ ASSISTANT. 
Position of the wings whether supported or hanging, cross- 
ing on the tail or not. Are they continuous, or covered by 
the feathers of the back and breast, for the upper half or 
third or two-thirds of their length? Do their extremities 
reach the tip of the tail, the half or fourth of its length? 
Are the heels covered by the feathers of the belly ? 
The skins of mammals and birds prepared according to 
the foregoing directions are really more valuable for the nat- 
uralist than the mounted specimens. ‘They may be kept 
systematically arranged in 
boxes or drawers. Mount- 
ing mammals and _ birds is 
the work of a taxidermist 
and directions for the op- 
erations are foreign to the 
purposes of this work. If 
it be desired to prepare the 
specimens for exhibition 
they had better be sent to 
the professional taxidermist, as amateur work generally pres- 
ents a very slovenly appearance. One thing, however, should 
always be insisted on; the stands employed should be of the 
simplest character. For birds the form of stand shown in 
the adjacent figure is preferable. These stands are usually 
painted white. For mammals and many aquatic birds a 
board is all that is necessary. By all means avoid the use 
of moss, mica sand, artificial leaves, etc., as they not only 
afford excellent lurking places for vermin, but also detract 
greatly from a scientific appearance of the collection ; they 
and not the specimens attract the eye. 
