MAKING SKINS. 
59 
used for specimens from the size of a humming- 
bird to that of a golden-winged woodpecker. The 
labels of ducks and herons may be attached to the 
beak by securing through the nostrils, as then 
they are more readily found. 
It is well to keep in mind that in order to have 
any value as a scientific specimen, a bird must be 
labelled as near as possible with date, locality, and 
sex, but never guess at either. If you have a skin 
in your possession that you are not absolutely 
certain about, either label it with an interrogation 
mark filling the part of which you are in doubt, or 
do not label it at all. Thus if you are unable to 
determine the sex satisfactorily, say so by draw- 
ing a line through the sex mark and substituting 
a query (?). 
Section VII. : Care of Skins, Cabinets, 
etc. — When skins are removed from the forms 
they should be dusted with a light feather-duster, 
striking them gently from the head downward so 
as not to ruffle the plumage. Although skins are 
well preserved from the attacks of demestes and 
anthrenus, which feed upon the skin, yet the 
feathers are always liable to be attacked by moths, 
while the skin on the feet or bills is also liable to 
be eaten. This may be prevented by washing the 
