THIi YOUNG ORNITHOLOGIST. 



3 



three nests since 1 began collecting, 

 bat they are seldom found in this 

 locality. I know of but one other nest 

 being found about here. 



All the nests tliat I have found 

 were in thick brush in a meadow. 

 lirst nest I found in Dunstable, Mass. 

 June 3, 1883. A number of weeks 

 after this, I found another nest with 

 three eggs, but a few yards from 

 where the first was found. This was 

 probably made by the same pair. My 

 third nest I found June 7, 1885, in 

 Tyngsboro, Mass., containing four 

 eggs. These were nearly hatched. 

 There was not much of nest, only a 

 few sticks and twigs laid on the 

 ground. The nest was nearly flat on 

 top. 



The eggs are of a light olive, with- 

 out spots. They average about 1.75 

 by 1.45 of an inch. 



C. W. Sw^\LLOw. 



TAXIDP]RMY. 

 By I). H. Eaton. 



Having procured your l)ird lay it 

 on its back on the bench, head from 

 you. Note the position of wings, 

 and general shape of the body, for 

 the skin, when stuffed, should res.em- 

 it as nearly as possible. 



Part the feathers with the thumb 

 and forefinger of the left hand, in a 

 line from the breast-bone to the vent. 

 Make a cut on tliis line, being- 

 careful not to cut too deep, for if the 

 intestines are exposed the operation 

 will be much complicated and the 

 feathers are very i\.\)t to get soiled. Lift 

 the skin with t e fingers or tweezers 

 and pull gently, at the same time 



press the flesh awa}' from the skin 

 with tlie knife. No cutting is neces- 

 sary. Skin well aronud the thigh, 

 then take the foot in the hand 

 and bend the leg, pushing it out at 

 the same time. Cut off' at the knee, 

 and clean the flesh from the bone 

 thoroughly. Do the same with the 

 other side. Skin to the tail and 

 cut off', being careful to leave enough 

 flesh to hold the tail feathers and also 

 take care not to cut too deep, in which 

 case 3'ou will completely sever the tail 

 from the body. 



Now lift the bird with the tweezers, 

 if a small one, if large let it rest on 

 its breast on the table, and strip the 

 skin down to the wings, and cut them 

 oft' close to the body. 



The ears are the next obstacle, they 

 are detached from the skull with the 

 point of the knife. Skin to the eyes, 

 draw the knife over the membrane cov- 

 ering them and scoop tiiem out with 

 the point of the knife, being careful 

 not to puncture them, as the moisture 

 will wet the feathers and spoil the 

 looks of your specimen. Sever the 

 body by cutting through at the. base 

 of the skull. 



Carefully clean out the skull and 

 cut as much flesh as possible from 

 the jaws, and extract the tongue. 

 Now skin the wings and clean the 

 flesh from the bones, which should 

 be left. 



Sprinkle the skin thickly vp^ith 

 powdered arsenic, rub it in thor- 

 oughly around the vent and put some 

 in the skull. Remember that you 

 cannot use too much arsenic, which 

 is a preservative, and I have found 

 it is the best security against the at- 

 tacks of insects. 



Place little wads of cotton in the eye 



