﻿272 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 



time necessary for the specimen to become quite dry, 

 of course depends upon many local circumstances. In 

 warm countries, two or three days' exposure to the air 

 will be sufficient ; but a week will be required in colder 

 climates : if placed within the influence of a warm fire, 

 the skin will become firm and dry much sooner. But 

 even when the form of the specimen is thus fixed, the 

 hood should not be removed, unless the bird is to be 

 placed at once in the cabinet, for it keeps the feathers 

 clean and smooth, and protects them from injury when 

 the specimens are packed ; indeed, all birds that are 

 sent from abroad, or stowed in a package, should have 

 their heads protected by these hoods, provided they 

 have been preserved in the first instance in such a 

 manner that they can be fitted on. A person not ac- 

 quainted with this mode of finishing a bird- skin, can 

 have no idea of the neatness which even an ill-stuffed 

 specimen will acquire after undergoing this last process ; 

 and although it is not absolutely essential, no one, after 

 witnessing its effects, will ever neglect it, if it was only 

 for the gratification it gives to the eye of the operator, 

 it may also be used much more generally with all birds, 

 whatever the length of their necks may be, than might 

 at first be imagined. No specimens are so troublesome 

 to pack, and occupy so much room, whether upon a 

 journey or in the cabinet, than the long-necked herons, 

 waders, and ducks. Now, if we look to these birds in 

 a state of nature, we see that the neck is very often 

 brought down close to the breast, so that to preserve 

 them in such a position is not only highly convenient, 

 but even natural. This may be done (but in the first 

 instance only) by firmly securing one end of the false 

 neck of tow, either in the hollow of the skull or by 

 bringing it out at the mouth, and then contracting the 

 neck to as short a length as possible ; the skin of a 

 heron whose neck was extended to its full length in 

 the first instance, may thus be brought to lay within 

 two thirds of the space it would otherwise occupy, 

 besides having a much better and neater appearance. 



