INTRODUCTION. 
23 
minal portion ; observe the plumule, the outline, and tip of 
the feather itself, and the manner in which it is coloured. 
Let him count the quills in the wing, take notice of their 
comparative length, form, and texture. Let him treat the 
tail in the same manner. Let him then pluck off all the 
feathers, and observe, by the marks left in the skin, how 
they have been arranged. The down, which still covers the 
skin, is now to be submitted to examination ; as well as the 
small bristles or hair-like feathers. When the bird is thus 
bared, he will better see its form, and will find that some- 
times a neck which seemed thick and strong, becomes thin 
and weak when deprived of its plumage ; that short legs 
have become long, or a flattened body narrowed. 
The knife and the scissors are now to be used. The skin, 
with its subjacent fat and cellular tissue, may be next exa- 
mined. The principal muscles that move the limbs may 
easily be traced. The eyes may be cut out and inspected. 
The windpipe will lead him into the thorax, where he will 
find the lungs. The tongue, the oesophagus, and the sto- 
mach, atford interesting objects of remark ; as do the other 
contents of the thoracic and abdominal cavities — the intes- 
tine, liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys ; the heart and 
pericardium ; the various cellules, permeated by the air 
which passes through the lungs, and the imperfect dia- 
phragm ; the ovaries, or other genital organs. 
This superficial examination will disclose some things, 
and leave many partially understood. By proceeding 
thus, knowledge will be gained by degrees, doubts will be 
solved, and errors rectified. A friend, more advanced, may 
perhaps assist ; or various anatomical works may be con- 
sulted. The vascular and nervous systems, and the organs 
of sense, will also require attention. Perhaps the skeleton 
may be prepared, that its parts may be inspected. This is 
not a difficult task. Let the soft parts be carefully removed 
from the bones, which are to be left united by the ligaments. 
The operation may take several hours of several days. The 
