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For mounting purposes, good typical specimens of both sexes in full 
fresh plumage are generally selected, but the scientific or research collection 
needs specimens of both sexes at different seasons — in spring nuptial or 
breeding plumage, winter plumage, moulting or transitional plumages — 
and the young at various stages from the downy young stage to full 
adult plumage stage. With some birds, such as the large gulls, there may 
be different stages of plumage every year up to the fourth year. It follows 
that whereas many a skin is not suitable for mounting, it may have 
important scientific value if its history is recorded on the label. 
Many species of birds may be captured alive in the various kinds of 
traps used by bird banders (Lincoln and Baldwin, 1929). Such specimens 
have the advantage of being clean, and the collector has the advantage of 
being able to carefully select the specimens he wishes to preserve. One 
feature which might be noted is that when “birds of the year” are banded, 
the collector may have a chance to examine adult birds of known age in 
succeeding years, by studying the “repeats” or birds that are trapped more 
than once. The bird collector has one great advantage over the collector 
of small mammals, in that he can pick up his specimens on casual 1-day 
excursions, shooting the specimens he desires as he sees them, whereas the 
mammal collector is generally obliged to set traps and visit them again 
the next day. 
Superficially, the collecting and preserving of mammal skins may 
appear to be easier than working with birds. The skin of the mammal is 
usually tougher and the hair well set and durable, so that it may be roughly 
handled and put through various cleaning processes with impunity. In prac- 
tice, however, a bird is generally more easily and rapidly skinned than 
a mammal of corresponding size, and on the average more birds can be put 
up in a day with less trouble. 
Collecting Birds in the Field 
A large part of the trouble with bird skins may be prevented by proper 
handling at the start. The feathers should be kept unruffled and as clean 
as possible, and the skin untorn. If a small bird is caught alive, it may 
be quickly and cleanly killed by pinching the bird sharply under the wings 
with the thumb and forefinger. The bird has a high temperature, rapid 
circulation and respiration, and compressing the ribs over the heart and 
lungs results in almost instant death. With birds larger than small hawks 
this method will not work well as the fingers may not be strong enough to 
give the needed pressure. Bearing down with the knee, assisted by the 
weight of the body, on the side of the bird’s chest, will produce the same 
effect. Birds have hollow bones, and these and other cavities and air sacs 
are connected with the lungs, so that a bird may suck in enough air through 
a broken bone to prolong life for some time. In such cases, the bird may 
be instantly killed by opening its mouth and thrusting a penknife blade 
into the base of the brain, the method used by dealers in killing poultry. 
Care should be taken to make the incision far back, as the bird’s brain is 
situated well behind the eyes. A plug of cotton should immediately be 
placed in the mouth to absorb any blood flowing. The bird collector should 
always carry in his pockets, a knife, a pair of fine-point forceps, a bunch 
of cotton batting, and a bottle or can of dry absorbent powder. 
