§8 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 ( 9 ), 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, 
By C. J. Maynard & Co., 
9 Pemberton Square, Boston, Mass. 
Rosewood , Nov. 10 , 1881. S 
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 
