58 MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 



Section VI. : Labelling Specimens. — A skin 

 is of little value unless labelled with date, locality, 

 and sex. Never lay a bird one side without a 

 label is firmly attached to one foot or other part. 

 The sex of birds is indicated by the astronomical 

 signs of the planets ; Mars ( $ ) and Venus ( $ ), the 

 former being, as is obvious, the mark for males 

 and the latter for females. To keep these in 

 mind one has only to remember, that that of Mars 

 is a conventionalized spear and shield, indica- 

 tions of his warlike profession, while that of 

 Venus is supposed to represent a looking-glass, an 

 article so indispensable to feminine taste. I use 

 blank forms for labels, and the simpler the better; 

 thus, below is one which I used during my last 

 expedition to Florida : — 



Explorations in Florida, 



Bj- C. J. Maynard & Co., 



9 Pemberton Square, Boston, Mass. 



Rosezvood, Nov. 10, 1881. <f 



The sex of either, male or female, is printed, 

 but at least two-thirds as many males as females 

 are needed ; while any notes regarding the color 

 of feet, bill, and iris of each specimen may be 

 written on the back. The size given is the one 



