8 THE ORNITHOLOGISTS’ AND OOoLocists’ SEMI-ANNUAL. 
all “leaks,” make a paper cone or cylinderand drop your bird into 
it head-first, adjusting the wings and any unruly feathers. | Make the 
cone or cylinder of such a size that the bird will fit closely, and have 
it of such a length that the end, or ends, can be pinched together, 
being careful not to bend or ruffle the tail feathers, and your bird 
will come out of its envelope nice and smooth even after a day’s 
jaunt. A game-bag will do to carry the birds in, putting the heavier 
birds at the bottom and arranging all of them nicely in the bag. 
Labelling is next in order, and is the most important part of the 
whole proceeding. Locality, date and sex are indispensable. The 
check-list number of the bird can be added, though not necessary. 
The collector’s number is a requisite, as this refers to his register of 
specimens, giving full particulars of capture, etc. Length of bird and 
extent of wing find a place on the label, as also the scientific 
name of the bird—common name can also be given. Name of col- 
lector and contents of stomach are added by some collectors. By 
using abbreviations, all this can be put on the two sides of a medium 
sized label. Sex is denoted by the sign of Mars for male and Venus for 
female. L., length, Ex., extent, etc., etc. Labels with strings attached 
can be bought of any stationer. 
We will now proceed to skin our bird. ‘The first thing to be done 
is to take a measurement of the length, which is the distance between 
the tip of the bill and end of the longest tail feather. Lay the bird 
on its back on the table, the tip of the bill flush with a pencil mark. 
Take hold of the bill with the fingers or tweezers and with the disen- 
gaged hand take hold of both legs and pull, using force enough to get 
the curve out of the neck,(don’t pull too hard) keep the bill flush 
with the pencil mark on the table, and mark where the end of the 
tail points. Measure this with a rule for the “length,” giving dimen- 
sions in inches and hundredths of an inch. Distance between the 
tips of the outspread wings: place the bird on its back, head to- 
wards you, take hold of each wing at the bend and using moderate 
force stretch them to their fullextent. Measure the distance between 
tips, and enter on your label as ‘‘extent.”” These two measurements 
can be taken only from the bird in the flesh. Length of wing, bill, 
feet, etc., etc., can be taken at any time from the dried specimen. 
Now make a paper cylinder the exact girth of your bird, securing it 
with a pin, this makes a good drying form. Lay the bird on its 
back (head to the left) and taking the scalpel (a sharp pocket-knife 
