SEC. vm MISCELLANEOUS PARTICULARS 71 



we at least learn of their occurrence, perhaps unknown before in a 

 particular region. MoUusk-feeding and fish-eating birds yield their 

 share of specimens. The alimentary canal is often the seat of 

 parasites of various kinds, interesting to the helminthologist ; other 

 species are to be found under the skin, in the body of muscle, in 

 the brain, etc. Most birds are also infested with external parasites 

 of many kinds, so various that almost every leading species has its 

 own sort of louse, tick, etc. Since these creatures are only at home 

 with a live host, they will be found crawling on the surface of the 

 plumage, preparing for departure, as soon as the body cools after 

 death. There is thus much to learn of a bird aside from what the 

 prepared specimen teaches, and moreover apart from regular ana- 

 tomical investigations. Whenever practicable, brief items should 

 be recorded on the label, as already mentioned. 



Restoration of Poor Skins. — If your cabinet be a general 

 one, comprising specimens from various sources, you will frequently 

 happen to receive skins so badly prepared as to be unpleasant 

 objects, besides failing to show their specific characters. There 

 is, of course, no supplying of missing parts or plumage ; but if 

 the defect be simply deformity, this may usually be in a measure 

 remedied. The point is simply to relax the skin, and then proceed 

 as if it were freshly removed from the bird ; it is what bird-stuffers 

 constantly do in mounting birds from prepared skins. The relaxa- 

 tion is effected by moisture alone. Remove the stuffing ; fill the 

 interior with cotton or tow saturated with water, yet not dripping ; 

 put pads of the same under the wings ; wrap the bill and feet, and 

 set the specimen in a damp, cool place. Small birds soften very 

 readily and completely ; the process may be facilitated by persistent 

 manipulation. This is the usual method, but there is another, 

 more thorough and more effective ; it is exposure to a vapour-bath. 

 The appointments of the kitchen stove furnish all the apparatus 

 required for an extempore steamer; the regular fixture is a tin 

 vessel much like a wash-boiler, with closed lid, false bottom, and 

 stopcock at lower edge. On the false bottom is placed a heavy 

 layer of gypsum, completely saturated with water ; the birds are 

 laid on a perforated tray above it ; and a gentle heat is maintained 

 over a stove. The vapour penetrates every part of the skin, and 

 completely relaxes it, without actually wetting the feathers. The 

 time required varies greatly of course ; observation is the best 

 guide. The chief precaution is not to let the thing get too hot. 

 Professor Baird has remarked that crumpled or bent feathers may 

 have much of their original elasticity restored by dipping in hot 

 water. Immersion for a few seconds suffices, when the feathers 

 will be observed to straighten out. Shaking off superfluous water, 

 they may be simply left to dry, or they may be dried with plaster. 



