BIRDS. 9 
When the head is of such a size that the skin of the neck 
cannot be drawn over it, as is the case with the flamingo 
and most web-footed birds, it will be necessary to make an 
incision in the neck near the base of the skull and through it 
remove the brain, etc. ‘This is an operation of considerable 
nicety as the feathers are very liable to get daubed. In case, 
however, any blood, brain or feculent matter should get on the 
feathers, it should be carefully removed by a cloth dampened ia 
warm water. Grebes and other water fowl with white silky 
bellies are sometimes skinned from an incision in the back. 
In this way the feathers are less liable to be daubed and to be 
stained by the oil of the body when in the cabinet. 
Humming birds from their diminutive size are not easily 
skinned. “They may, however, be preserved by making an in- 
cision on the belly and removing as much of the soft parts as 
possible with the forceps and scissors. ‘The skin should then 
be thoroughly poisoned and filled with cotton wool or tow. 
On the label attached to each bird should be information 
as to the following points : 
Exact locality, date of capture, sex, food (ascertained by 
an examination of crop and gizzard) color of the eyes, feet, 
bill, gums, membranes, caruncles, etc. Attitude of body when 
at rest. Does the bird perch or not? ‘The length in inches 
from the tip of bill to the end of tail, the distance between 
the extremities of the outstretched wings and the length of 
the wing from the carpal joint. 
Should it be desired to mount the specimen, information 
on the following points will aid the taxidermist in giving the 
proper position. 
