﻿31 ODE OF DESCRIBING SFECIES. PRESERVATIO. 24 7 



placed our bird. Here, comparative characters, from a 

 well known species, are of the greatest value ; and here, 

 every deviation, however slight, should be noticed. 

 Then follows the description of the plumage, and, 

 lastly, the measurements, which should be taken as 

 follows : — 1 . Total length, in inches and tenth parts. 

 Specimens will always vary in this from the mode of 

 preserving or mounting, arid the greater or less exten- 

 sion of the skin. 2. The length of the bill, from the 

 angle of the mouth and from the front base. 3. The 

 wings, from the tip of the longest quill to the elbow 

 joint. 4. The tail, from the base of the feathers, and 

 how much it extends beyond the wings. 5. The tar- 

 sus, from the meeting of the thigh and shin bone (or 

 the knee) to the upper base of the hind toe, or, if so 

 expressed, to the sole of the foot. 6. The toes, posi- 

 tively and relatively, the claws being included therein. 

 The specific descriptions by Dr. Richardson may be re- 

 commended as models in this respect, and we may be 

 allowed to say, they are the best we have ever met with. 



CHAP. III. 



ON COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND ARRANGING BIRDS. 



(208.) A general introduction to ornithology would 

 be incomplete if no notice was taken of the mechanical 

 part of the subject ; that is, of the methods by which 

 the birds themselves are to be procured, preserved, and 

 arranged. Those who study this science must possess 

 specimens, if they wish either to understand thoroughly 

 what has already been written upon it, or if they desire 

 to prosecute any line of original research. We feel per- 

 suaded, therefore, that this chapter will conduce very 

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