t 3 11 ] 
Birds appear to great advantage when picking their 
feathers ; the tail is then expanded, the wing on that 
fide to which the bill is turned lifted up, the other 
drooping down, and fomewhat extended from the 
fide, in order to balance the body. Birds when 
fighting afford endlefs variety of attitude and expref- 
fion ; but certainly never any fo aftedling as when 
grouped with, and feeding their young, whofe cla- 
morous hunger, expreffed by their gaping mouths 
and extended pinions, occafion that anxious per- 
plexity and tender joy of the mother bird, fo ftrongly 
marked by the fpreading tail, the drooping wings, 
and peculiar pofition of the head. 
Having now fet down all that I have to fay on thefe 
matters, I fhall, in my next letter, go immediately 
upon the method of preparing and applying the ma- 
terials which I ufe in prefervations. I am. 
Sir and Gentlemen, 
Your mod obedient humble fervant, 
Ma y 3 r > T. S. Kuckahn. 
LETTER III. 
Sir and Gentlemen, 
NOW proceed to defcribe the materials 
which I ufe, in preferving birds, beads. 
See. and the methods of preparing them, viz. 
For 
