1. INTRODUCTION 



1. INTRODUCTION 



Much information about birds has been gained through the study of pre- 

 served material assembled in museums. The parts of birds which are 

 commonly preserved for comparative study are the SKIN, which is dried 

 with legs, wings, and bill attached and is usually stuffed to resemble the live 

 bird in shape; the SKELETON, as a series of loose bones kept together in a 

 box rather than a single articulated structure; and the WHOLE SPECIMEN, 

 which consists of the entire bird preserved in a fluid, formerly invariably 

 alcohol, (hence the term "spirit specimens" which is sometimes used for 

 such material). In addition both nests and eggs are collected 



All study collections require additional specimens of many species in one 

 form or another. This is particularly true of birds from those parts of the 

 world where travellers are infrequent, but may also apply elsewhere, and 

 amateur naturalists and tourists may obtain specimens that prove of great 

 value in research, while residents in remote areas are in the privileged position 

 of being able to collect at all times of year and so supplement the information 

 collected by sporadic visitors. 



Since the random killing of birds and collecting of eggs and nests without 

 definite scientific aim is very undesirable it is important to write to the 

 museum and discover what material is wanted before starting to collect, 

 although a collector in a remote region may have to rely on his own judge- 

 ment. In most countries today there are laws for the protection of some or 

 all birds, and in addition permits may be necessary to collect any species. 

 Before collecting actually commences the collector must discover what 

 legislation for bird protection exists in any area, and also obtain the necessary 

 permits. 



Although preparing a skin takes longer than other processes this is the 

 traditional kind of bird specimen, and for this adults in fresh plumage tend 

 to be selected. Skeletons are prepared more quickly as far as the time spent 

 on them is concerned, but need more time to dry and may look and smell 

 less pleasant, while whole specimens are quickly prepared but formerly 

 offered difficulties of storage and transport. As a result skeletons and whole 

 specimens, and the skins of juveniles and immature birds, and birds in moult, 

 are usually needed more than adults in fresh plumage prepared as skins. 



