290 
ON PRESERVING BIRDS. 
Preserving with the means; the second will enable you to dissect; 
Birds. 
■ -- and the third cause you to dissect well. These may 
be called the mere mechanical requisites, 
stuffing. In stuffing, you require cotton, a needle and thread, 
a little stick, the size of a common knitting-needle, 
glass eyes, a solution of corrosive sublimate, and 
any kind of a common temporary box to hold the 
specimen. These also may go under the same de¬ 
nomination as the former. But if you wish to excel 
in the art, if you wish to be in ornithology, what 
Angelo was in sculpture, you must apply to pro¬ 
found study, and your own genius to assist you. 
And these may be called the scientific requisites. 
Requisite You must have a complete knowledge of orni- 
thorougii thological anatomy. You must pay close attention 
of onS se to the form and attitude of the bird, and know 
Anatomy! exactly the proportion each curve, or extension, or 
contraction, or expansion of any particular part 
bears to the rest of the body. In a word, you 
must possess Promethean boldness, and bring down 
fire, and animation, as it were, into your preserved 
specimen. 
Examine Repair to the haunts of birds, on plains and 
the econo- . • r* . i i i i • 
my of the mountains, forests, swamps, and lakes, and give up 
birds.*’ 0t your time to examine the economy of the different 
orders of birds. 
Then you will place your eagle, in attitude com¬ 
manding, the same as Nelson stood in, in the day of 
battle, on the Victory’s quarter-deck. Your pie will 
seem crafty, and just ready to take flight, as though 
fearful of being surprised in some mischievous 
