52 PEAOTICAL 'TAXIDERMY. 



wliicli, in tlie palmy days of Greenwich, or Cliarlton fairs, was 

 retailed to tlie cry of " All the fun of the fair for one penny ! " 



In bringing this chapter to a close, let me not omit to mention 

 that all shot birds should immediately have the mouth, palatal 

 slit, and nostrils, stopped with tow or cotton wool, to prevent 

 the blood from running out and soiling the feathers ; then, 

 if possible, always wrap each specimen separately in paper, 

 smoothing the feathers in their proper places before doing so. 

 Also, never carry a shot bird by its neck, as the weight of the 

 bird's body depending from the neck must stretch the latter 

 beyond its fair proportions. 



I have here briefly glanced at a few of the many ways of 

 taking birds and beasts ; to have described them all would have 

 required a special volume double the size of the present one. I 

 think, however, I have said enough for all practical needs; 

 but in case any reader should require fuller information, I 

 must refer him to such articles as he will find week by week 

 in The Field, Land and Water, or the American publication, 

 Forest and Stream. Good text books, also, on Trapping, &c., 

 are W. B. Lord's " Shifts and Expedients of Camp Life," Captain- 

 Darwin's ("High Elms") " Game Preservers' Manual," Jefferries' 

 " Amateur Poacher," " Gamekeeper at Home," &c. For details- 

 as to the hunting and scientific shooting of foreign large game, 

 with directions as to the vulnerable spots to be aimed at, I must, 

 again refer the reader to articles from the pen of such men 

 as Sir Samuel Baker, G. P. Sanderson, "Smoothbore," "The Old 

 Shekarry," Gordon Gumming, Jules Gerard, C. J. Andersson, 

 Emil Holub, P. C. Selous, &c., all of whom have either written 

 books on sporting, or whose articles are still to be met with in. 

 late numbers of The Field. 



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