HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 
23 
(nearly opposite to the last ribs) and separating it from the intes¬ 
tines. The testicles of the male are two spheroidal or ellipsoidal 
whitish bodies, varying fron the size of a pin head to that of a 
hazel-nut, according to the season. The ovaries of the female, 
consisting of a flattened mass of spheres, variable in size with the 
season, will be found in the same region.”* All of the above 
statements should be plainly written upon slips of parchment or 
pasteboard, with ink, and attached to the corresponding specimen, 
or recorded in a blank book, with a number corresponding to the 
one attached to the specimen. 
When practicable, nest and eggs should be preserved with the 
birds to which the}^ belong, and all information concerning dates 
and places where they were found, drawings of specimens will 
also be useful, both in mounting and as a source of reference. 
Many may consider the above directions, or at least a greater 
portion of them, of not much importance, but if they are care¬ 
fully observed and practiced, the value of the collection will be 
greatly enhanced, since such imformation is of the utmost impor¬ 
tance in scientific reseaches. Even should tliej^ not be destined 
for these purposes, the ameteur will find his collection far more 
interesting and instructive. 
The collector should be provided with a light double-barrelled 
gun, the best of powder, and shot of various sizes, No. 10 being 
used for killing small birds, as it is least injurious to the plumage. 
Humming Birds should be killed with dust shot. Early in the 
morning and after sunset are the best periods of the day for pro¬ 
curing birds. If the collector be in any tropical country, he 
should choose the early dawn for his excursions, on account of 
the coolness of the air. It is also the time when the birds are 
seen and heard in greatest numbers. Birds in tropical countries 
are generally so tame, that they can be easily approached ; and 
with little skill a sufficient number can be killed in the space of 
two or three hours, to occupy the collector the remainder of the 
day. It is a good rule never to kill more specimens than can he pre¬ 
served during the day. In some parts of tropical America, Hum¬ 
ming Birds, Creepers and other small birds are shot with blow¬ 
pipes by the natives, and they are killed in this manner without 
the least injury to their plumage. Many are also caught by means 
^Report of '.he Smithsonian Institution. 
