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1653 East Main Street

f.?^]??"*'- New York 14609 USA

(716) 482 - 0300 - Phone

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Inc

aw.o. IMA

CAN'AOA

DEPARTMENT OF MINES
amoLoaiCAL burvby

RuKliT lliii<Rli", Mt^uTrN . A f Low, l>rrriv MiNlxTIk:
H. W. KlDiiK. lMliritu«,

f ON THE COLLETTION OF ZOOLOfllCAL SPECIMENS

roR TMr.

VICTORIA MEMORIAL MUb::'jM

ZOOLOGY

•T

P. A. TAYEBNEB

22975

OTTAWA

GOVERNMENT PRINTING BUREAU

1912

No. 1234

i30Vi»-i

m COLLHCriON OF ZOOLOGICAL SPECIMENS

rOI THI

VICTORIA MEMORIAL MUSEUM

ZOOLOGY

•p. A. XAVPIRNKR

INTRODUCTORY.

The Victoria Memorial Museum has already a consider-
able amount of zoological material in its colieotionH; but
Canada is broad, and the surface of her resources has been
merely touched. In the existing collections, no 'branch of
zoology is, as yet, exhaustively represented. The only
areas from which a few scattered specimens have hitherto
been gathered are, southern British Columbia, along the
Initernational Boundary to eastern Saskatchewan, and ex-
treme southern Ontario; and even in these parts there is
still much collecting to be done. It will readily be seen,
therefore, that tJiere is a large tield from which contri-
butions to the Museum collection can be made by its
friends, and especially through the medium of the Geolo-
gical Survey fipld parties, and other exploratory expedi-
tions. Any zoological specimens from the untouched
regions may be regarded as valuable acquisitions.

Canada is a growing country, of great promise; and the
older countries are taking advantage of this fact; for a
number of their larger museums have better representa-

tive specimens of Canada's fauna than is found in her
own national museum at Ottawa. National pride should
stimulate her people to make some effort on behalf of their
own institution. Visitors from other lands take pride in
d'epositlng in their own national r<>poHitories the results
of their hunting and other excursious on Canadian soil ;
and it is to be hoped that our people wilil not
fall behind tho^e of other nations in patriotic inter-
est. We wish to make our Museum trulj National, truly
representative of the country, and one to which every
citizen can point, with pardonable pride. To attain this
result, however, will demand the sympathrtip interest and
co-operation of the whole people — collectively, and in-
dividually.

It is not to be supposed that an institution of this kind,
maintained by the Government, can ever rival private in-
stitutions of like character, independently of help from
public spirited individuals, outside the Government tech-
nical staff. The prestige of such renowned institutions as
the British Museum and Smithsonian Institution, is due
as much to the generous aid and practical interest of
.private individuals ■as to direct government support.
Wealthy though the government of a prosperous and pro-
gressive country may be, there are constant drains on its
financial resources, hence experience shows that where
Science and Art institutions rely on government aid
alone, they are never able to compete with those which are
backed by the active interest and wide influence of pri-
vate patronage.

We appeal, therefwre, to those Canadians whose work
or sport carries them to distant or out-of the-way place*
in the Dominion, or in other land«i, to remember that, the
Victoria Memorial Museum is tihe legitimate repository of
the soological ftpecimens they gather, and which they dfi
not desire to retain as personal trophies. In every in-
stance full credit wil'l be given to the donor, together with

a gnarant<>e that such acquisitions will be k«pt safely, for
all time, as far as is humanly possible, and put to the
best possible scientific- and educational use. The clasMifica-
tion. and public exhibition of these contributions will be
an aid in extending useful knowledge, and will add to the
prestige of Canadian science.

Moreover, not only can those interested in the science
o' zoology help by supplying specimeniit. but also by mak-
ing notes, and gathering information as to the distribu-
tion and habits of Canadian wild life. Such records,
especially those from localities which have been only
meagrely studied, are invaluable; often of more import-
ance than actual specimens; and although some of the
notes may not be deemed of sutlicient importance for
official purblication, yet the aggregate of such information
will be of value in estimating and appreciating the zoolo-
gical resources and conditions of the country.

Before closing this appeal for private contributions of
zoological specimens, etc., there is one aspect of the sub-
ject to which it is necessary to refer, namely, to the fact
that, private donators sometimes im'pose confining condi
tions which are altogether unreasonable. It is to be sup-
posed that the technical officers of the .Museum are cnm-
|>etent to handle !«pe«imens in a way most advantageous
to the advancement of science; therefore, to hamper them
with arbitrary conditions, imposed by those less exper-
ienced in the scientific study of the subject, is more apt
to militate agains*, than for, the interests of zoology.
Circumstances so change in a few years, that re<*trictionP
which at onetime seemed reasonable, are found, later on, to
b<» an almost intolerable interference with the proper uhp
of specimens, and against the interest of e<lucation and
jtiogress. Hence it is hoped that spfrimens donated
to the Victoria Memorial Mus» um by pi hlic spirited
individuals, for the advancement of sci^ e, will be
given €ully and freely; without those entangling restric-

tions and embarrassments that have hindered the useful-
ness of 80 many similar institutions, and defeated, very
largely, the object of their existence, namely, the con-
servation and universal diffusion of knowledge.

ZOOLOOICAI. OOIXEOTINO.

INTRODUCTION,

In collecting zoological material in out of the way and
little known localities, the first question the amateur is
likely to ask is: "What to collect." The experienced
naturalist, of course, should know in general what is the
mo»t desira'ble material in any given locality and is in a
position to pick and choose to advantage. The beginner,
however, on the other band, has to go more or less by
guess, and in the endeavour to gather what is best, as
often guesses wrong as right. As an aid to him in mak-
ing the best of his opportunities, the following suggestions
are written.

In general, when the collector is undecided as to what
is of the moat value, it is i)est to adopt a rule to take
that which seems the most characteristic of the locality.
The chances are greatly in favour of that iheing rare in a
little worked locality, which is common elsewhere. In any
event a collection of rarities d'rom any one place fails to
give a just idea of local conditions for it is the abnormal
facts that have been chosen to represent them rather than
the normal. Of course, anything that is known to 'be rare
should be obtained if pot^ible, but unless the collector is
well posted on the subject, it is not wise to neglect a good
amount of common material close at hand for the sake
of a few things that may seem at the time to be rare.

In the 'bird fauna, the most characteristic forms in any
given locality are the summer residents. Hence, breeding
birds are always desirable, and give a better idea of local

€C€ok>gical conditions than do migrants which, in their
long journey.s, are forced to pasH through manj' habitats
inor« or l©»ts uncongenial to their requirements.

The most iproiitable course for a beginner under such
conditions, is to endeavour to collect specimens of every
thing that comes under his notice, beginning with the
commonest. The mere fact of locality gives most things
zoological an enhanced value. Many species vary under
the geographical influence of their distribution, sometimes
broadly, sometimes so minutely that it takw the closest
study to detect the differentiation. The forn. in evidence
may or may not be identical with others from a well
studied locality, but in either case they are valuable, as
the demonstration of a lack of variation in a locality is
of as much s<-ientitic importance as that of its occurrence.

Corollary to the above, is a rule that may be stated as
" Never neglect the inconspicuous." Striking beauty or
unvisual form are not criteria of sc-ientific vali:p, What
seems unusual or new to the beginner is often an old
story to the experienced naturalist. Fine showy specimens
are to be met with in many collections, and are generally
already much better represented in them than tihcir rela-
tive importance demands. Probably, the duller and more
obscure specimens are in more immediate demand than
the brighter ones. While the finely antiered buck that
the sportsman sweats to bring out in good shape may be
a magniiicent trophy, it can likely be duplicated or even
surpassed in many existing collections. Moreover, the
s|>ecies has probably been already well studieil. but the in-
conspicuous mouse, creeping in the gra^w where the nobler
animal fell, may be a new and undescribed si)ecies. It is
not to be inferred, however, that such fine s|)ecimens are
not to be secured when jKissible. but an exaggerated idfa
of their importance is to be guarde<l against.

In like manner it does not follow that bee a speci-

men is in a worn or moulting condition of jmage or

pelage, it in valaelenet as a specimen. It may not be poR-
6ibl« to wse it for a showy »i»eoimen in the exhibition
hall«, but in study colle<tioHs, spetiimens are required of
each species in every tMissiWe natural condition. In order
to give a just idea of the valu • of such material it is well
to state that the true specim* iis of any museum, the col-
lections that give the institution it« true scientific stand-
ing, are not those found in the glass exhibition cases of
the main halls, but are those stored away in the dark
c»binet« of the laboratories where only the student or the
si>«Mal inquirer usually sees them. In fact, it is quite a
serious qucHtiou whether any really valuable s-pecimens
should ever be mounted and exposed to the disintegrating
influences of light and air in the public exhifbition« where
its life is limited and where it is unavailable for close
examination and study. For scientific work, a specimen
is a specimen, no matter in how worn or ragged a condi
tion it may be, so long as it truthfully represents a stage
of life of the species it represents. In fact it is just such
s]M>«imens in which most collections — ours amongst the
number— are weakest. We can usually find plenty of adult
spring male birds in collections, or fine antlered bucks;
but specimens of young, moulting, or changing plumages
of birds, or summer coated animals, are difficult to find,
though of equal and ofteh greater interest to the
naturalist.

Another point to bear in mind is that while well made
specimens are most desirable, any specimen is better than
none at ail. If time and circumstances, or lack of ability
com'bine to prevent the making of perfect preparations,
make them up as well as circumstances permit, but save
them at any rate. The difference is only an esthetic one
and not scientific, and we are collecting for the latter and
not the former reasons. In making skins or other zoolo-
gical preparations in the field, put all the time and care
upon them that can be well spared, but remember that

two fairly good specimens are worth more than one mech-
anically perfect as long as the imperfectiona are but in
the make-up and looks, and are not of n nature to imperil
its lasting properties or usefulness.

(Irease is the great«>st enemy, after inneot jn'stw, that dried
»r>ecimen9 such as skins, etc., have. A skin may bo beau-
tifully shaped, and each feather and hair may be i?i its
proper place, but if every particle of fat has not been
removed from within, the triumph is but momentary. In
a short time, depending upon circumstances, the grease
works out and stains everything a dirty yellow, and short-
ly the skin itself disintegrates and falls to pieces. In
technical terms it " burns." With care, a properly made
skin should last indefinitely, and should be prepared with
this in view. Study specimens are not made for to-day or
to-morrow, but as far as we are able to preserve them,
for all time. We are gathering to-day, material for future
generations to study. Many of the specimens that are of
comparatively little interest now may be the treasures
of the future, and it is our responsibility that we hand tn
posterity our material in condition that will render it
available for use. It must be remembered that many
forms oif life aire disappearing, and in many cases all the
material the future can obtain is that which we are at
present gathering.

It sometimes hapi>ens that circumstances prevent 'tlior-
ough cleaning of a valuable specimen at the time of col-
lection. In this case, it is best to do the work as well as
opportunity permits, then dry and ship in to the mii«4eum,
•where it can be relaxed and properly taken care of nt the
earliest possible moment, before the damage has gone so
far as to render the operation too difficult or dangerous.
In the early part of the autumn or when the weather is
not too warm and railway communications are jjood, it is
often possible and advisable to makt> uj) specimens
roughly, insert pads of cai-bolated cotton— solution to be

given l«ter— and tihip to the museum Ireah, there to bt>
properly cleaned and finished. With the thermometer up
to about eighty, in the hottest part of the day, specimens
have succemfully come through in this manner after be-
ing for a week on the road. This is specially to >be recom-
mende<' in the case of large 'birds, or greasy ones, when
adequate facilities for cleaning or drying are not available
in the field, or when the birds are desired for mounting in
the public exhibitions.

Again it sosnetimeti occurs that it is impossible to make
any preparation of a specimen whatever, yet it is import-
ant that at least identification be secured. In this case,
ttecure some part of it. if it is « mammal, a fragment of
hair or skin shoiwing tiu* most characteristic detail; the
tail is, in many species, diagnostic. If a bird, bring back
a wing, head, loot, or tail, or all of them if possible. An
entire specimen is better than a collection of fragments,
several pieces are better than one, but that is better than
nothing at all. Some of our most valuable records have
been substantiated by just such fragmentary material.

One thing should be borne in mind while collecting. A
Natural History Museum is no place for freaks. A few
such may not be out of place as illustrating the lengths
to 'Which the aibnormal may go in nature, but the value
of such things as two headed calves, four legged chickens,
natural pictures in rocks, etc., is but too generally over-
rwted. Such things are only monstrosities, and there is
very little to be gained from their study. Likewise, albinos
(white) and melanotic (black) specimens of normally dif-
ferently coloured species, are of but comparatively small
interest. Such creatures are merely caused by a lack or
a ^superabundance of the pigment in the cells of the outer
coviering and are the result of purely individual phenomena,
and not racial or geographic inflr?nces. While alive, they
may be of considerable inter'wt to breeders working out
proiblems of heredity, but dead and stufled, they amount tc

little more than curiositien, and any great amount of time,
labour, or money, spent upon their acquisition is largely
wasted.

Another generally mi»underatood subject is the compara-
tive value of mounted sipecimens to a museum. In by far
the great ma'jority of cases, a skin is much more dwirable
than a mounted specimen. In the first place, study speci
mens are oftem at a higher premium than thotte for exhfbi-
tion; and in the second, a« the exhibitions are planned ac-
cording to a comprehensive plan, spec^imens, unless specially
set up for their prearranged space, rarely fit satisfactorily
into groups or other schemes. Usually, ready mounted
siiecimeufl, to fulfil thcdr use<t, have to be remounted be-
fore they can be used. Interesting specimens coming in
ill the shape of skins can be more advantageously
mounted and make more satisfactory finished prepara-
tions than when previous mounting has set them into posi-
tions that, though good in themselves, are more or less
unsatisfactory lor the exact requirement of the space in
which they are designed to be placed.

The next point that it seems advisable to emphasize
should really have come first, as it is the most important
part of any branch of scientific collecting. It bears upon
the vital necessity of preserving proper data with the
collected material. No matter how rare or valuable a
specimen may be, unless it has full data attached it Is
practically worthless. In fact a good label without a
specimen has a certain amount of value, bat a specimen
without a label is almost valueless. There should be %
label attached to every specimen indicating (1) the locali'ty
in which it was collected; (2) the date; (3) the sex;
and a long way (4) one or more measurements de-
pending upon the specimen and its anticipated use. The*
collector's name should also show on the label in order
that the authority for the facts there stated may be located
and due credit giveq. To please himself the collector may

-_^-.

«ld th. ».«. of th. .petie,. but ihi. ij th. W J«.
portunt f..tar. .nd nni^ th. colltrtor U ««'• »' J^
MPtrt it in M lik«l7 to b» wrong m right. In .nj .Tont.

U f«. which cnn b. f^A .t any tim. by *»'«J»^»*!^,
In rMard to locality. end^Tonr to tie up to wme d^nito
.Jd 'will ki^wn ..irnph^cl loclity Th. nonjber »
tim^i .ach nam.. •. Mud tak. or Sucker cr^k h.T.

X tninrby baring .n •-*?»«>,;•»•• >•*!*"?; 'tt^r^'.
iud. will h.y. to b. n^, or e.^ther wjth . rirer inter-^
ILn A. .ititnd. hM con»ide>r«bi. to do with the dlatrlDU
on'of lifi it t m^d«ri"W* that it should be »t.t.d
r..ery lli.^. where po^ible. when the .pj^men is fron.
an area having a atrongly accentuated relief.

In the matter of date., alway. write the name of the
Joll or ita proper abbreviation. Never -Pre« »* »^^
number. Thi. in a very common P'"*'*^*' \^\*^3„;J
L condemned. Some nne a ny^tem m -^ich the -non h

number com«, first, and «»me rever* ^*Ja I^if^on
other. u.e either system indiscriminately and oonfumon

''ix'inrof"»pecimen. i. another '^'^f''^*';,^ZZ.Z.
siderable attention. Alcoholic or other fluid prewrva
tions where the object is prewrved entire require no wx
determination, but with .kin. or ^-fj^'^'^l^ JJ^^^^X
tions. the sex .hould always be eUted. No «ex mark
.hould ever be put upon a label un^ ^^ ^^J^^^eutnv
mined by examinatior of the genitalia. However well any
Tne may know the secondary characteri.tic. of a .pec« .
it i^ never safe to put conolu.ions .o reached upon a labeh
• If one man can determine the «ex by the^ means, so can
Vu f « utpr time The sex marks on a label should

iirUin mMhod of dimitction. Hexing biwdinf spMinMns U
alwBjn* an e^y matter, but in compm wh^re the gf^italia
me niwe or li^ dormant, an iji fall killed and
juvenile birdtt, il nt oiU-n an entirely «liffer<>nt matter.
Xever henitatr to put a queHtioii mark aifter a deter-
mination wiiere there is the Hlightent Hhade of doubt.
Kven ex|>erienced collectors linve to do thin at time*, and
nothing -e engendent NUtr.iicion of u beginnerV work
than to find that he haH imagined lumwlf competent to
decida ©very sex determination in a lot of fall and Juvenilt
Hpe«imen«. Tlie caution will bear re|>eaititjg. never to put
an unqualified sex mark on a specimen unlem you are
nbMlutely sure of it. AIho make it a rule to um axactly
the proper form of sex mark in every case. The symbol
^ means male and 9 is female. There are »Hght iant*
of these in more or lees current use, but they are con-
tinually causing trouble and should be avoided.

Some collectors follow the practice of putting a niunber
upon the specimen and then making a not© of it with the
data on loose sheets or in a book devoted to the purpose.
Such a course is to be highly conciumned. Sooner or later
the loo*? »hi>ets or the book will be lost, and the value
of the collection disappears with them. If each individ-
ual is securely fastened to its own data, the danger of
such a loss is reduced to a minimum. Should proper label
blanks be unobtainalble, any good tough paper will aer-e.
and even, at a pinoh. a bit of vood, whittled flat, can be
written on and will serve the purpose well.

The best medium for the writing of labels is the most
I>ermauent one. A waterproof India ink \» the first choice
land a good black pencil comes next. Ordinary ink or a
I fountain pen runs badly with a little moi!«ture and should
I be avoided. Indelible pencil is about the worst possible
I medium for the purpwte. Keep the labels as small as
I possible. Large labels can go on large specimens, but small
Upecimens with sheets of writing paper attached to them
' 2297S— 2

»r» •lOMdlngljr Dwkward to look at or to handl*. A ma»-
HUiu puts its own UM on a iip«cimi>n wh*n it rtcclvM it,
tut tb« original lab*! ia retain«>u in order to verify or
oorrwot iMMoibla n.iiitakM in copjring. etc.. and ungainly
lalMdM are much in th« way in tlif> c»bin«t traya. An
other thing to be avoided Ik the titie of ook>ured iitringH in
labeU. The eligbteet amount of water makMi the colour
run. and diafigure* the Hpecimen, oauwing diacolorationA
that may at aome time be regarded an natural, giving
r'M» to miointeripretation of fact.

I^MnaUy, the only Hafe rule in label writing i^ to put
nothing thereon but actually attcertained facta. Infer-
encea and conoJuaiona made in the field are extremely valu-
able but their place Ih in the note book. Un the label
there ifbould appear nothing but " the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth."

BiitDB.

OU^KTINa.

No ex(plicit directions can be formulated for the actual
collection of birdM. Aa the shot gun ia the principal in-
strument of uae, collection reeolvea itself into a problem
of stalking within range and shooting straight, and only f
diflera from hunting in the care thbt ia taken in killint;
and carrying cleanly "here are. however, a few hints
that experience haa shown to be of value.

Any gun that will kill ia sullioient, but for all around
work it ifl hard to beat a double barrelled twelve gauge
Hhot gun. If a permanent camp is estaiblished the collector
ran furnieh himself with any number of firearms for
the different kinds of game he intends to collect, but
where space and weight is at a premium, the above in
the long run will give the best satisfaction. A double

l.|irr.l hw th* lulvautmif. »v..r 4 ri>pMt»r in that two
.IIBwent .iiiHl load, can b« ...rriH In th<* barreU at one*.,
each ready for in««tant iiho «h .„c««ion nmy d«>nia.id. A
twHvp vauKO i-« a good u|| around boro. wHI triwi 1,v
pxp«.ru.m.e and adf>quat(« f<.r the lttrK««t gam.. ..m,. [h lik-Iv
to mwt an woll tt* thP Hiuall«,t. wIih. i>ro|.erIy loadmi Hm
Kroat«,t rwM.niniMidation. however, for thin work, in the

f if.*!*'' *'"'■•' ''■•^'' nmniunition ran be obtained for
It. Th.« iH ,. ,„>i„t of no nmall imiiortance when the lol-
let-tor la working far away from hin „wn regular dealer,
tor amatl birA. at very clone range a .22 ralibre rifle
with Mhot NbelLi often worb» very well. The older the
weapon and the more worn the grooven of the rifling the
)»etter. It i« hardly advinable to luie a good new rifle for
thiH puriwne an the ^hot lodges in the grooves and until
removed wiU !*|)oil its shooting with ball.

^uuvift^nos.
In regard to anununtion. dny Hmokele*, powder of
re«^ni»e<l make in mo^t satisfactory; the exact bran.l 1^
largely a matter if personal opinion. In shooting aniall
bird- ir tangled underbrush, or over long grL the
absence of smoke in seeing just where th, game falls' is of
great adjantage ifcwever. when nothing else is obtain-
able old-fashioned blatk powder will do goo,! service The
oad must be accommodated the size of the birds, and
the range at which they are Killed. Small birds in heavy
brush where the range i« always doae demand small
Hqmb loads, while the sauie birds in high trees often re-
quire he full load of the gun. The p«,per loads can onlv
be judged by experience and an their number in legion
under the various circum^anci« of field work, it is nsimllv
advisable for the collector to loa<l his own shells He
then can modify them as each days work seems to de-
mand. The general rule given for loading for this puriKise

I ''

less powder its equivalent should be used, detpending ujion
its strength. However a little more jwwder strength than
the above never comes amins, as the superior penetration
it gives cuts cleaner and smoother holes in the skin and
causes less effusion of blood. Varying sizes of shot are
necessary and the following will be found satisfactory for
various birds, —

No. 14 for all Hmall birds.

No. 10. ...for birds the siz^e of robins and blacbbirds.

No. 8.... for birds the size of small hawks and large
waders.

No. B for birds the size of partridge and ruffed

grouse.

No. 4. for birds the size of large hawks, owls, ducks,

etc.

For larger sizes current practice and experience will de-
cide the most effective loads.

On prolonged ex:)editionjs, brass shells will be found the
most satisfactory as they can be reloaded indefinitely,
and where space and weight are at a premium, one set will
last the season and save the carriage of quantities of
empty cases.

OTHER BQITIPHENT.

A pair of good field glasses is nowadays almost indis-
pensable to an ornithological field worker. They erable
him to successfully identify birds at distances far beyond
the ability of the naked eye. The better the glass the
better satisfaction it will give. Some of the modern pris-
matic binoculars are by all means the best available, but
nothing higher than an eight power si ild be used. When
carrying a gun, it is found impractitable to hold higher
power glassas steadily with the one free hand, under the
varied and often awkward circumstances of the field. The
points to bear in mind in picking out a pair of glasses are
sharpness of definition, absence of chromatic aberration.

n t'f°' '\" '''^- J°' ^***''*'"« '""■"-d glimpses of

e atL ri. TT '''' '^''r " "^ ^"^ important desid-
eratum It IS to be rBmembered. htmever, that in dull
or cloudy wither a low ,K,wer glass will yield brighter
.m«ge«. and h.nce better results than a larger magnifict-

< otlXl Itfit' 'r^' ''^ " ?"^* ^*'"^^'^ -«»"'-^ t° *
w hout7r„ V *^"^^ •*'''"^^ '^° ♦»»« best of «ha,M>

without crushing or squeezing, and forms a receptacle C
carrying cotton, papers, bottler of cornmeal orplas^Vof
pans. „.s«t killing bottles, empty shells, .nd other
such paraphernalia that the collector soon find« it ex-
pedient to carry with him in the field.

CONDUCT IN THB MELD.

Of fonduct in th^ field, nothing need be said more th^n
applies to general hunting. Quietness of action and the
avoidance of unnecessary quick movements are the best
rules of action. One little expedient in common use
among ornithologists it may be well t^ mention. Place
the moist lips against the back of the hand, and draw air
into the mouth. A fine squeaking sound will be produced
which repeated a few times will be found to excite all
the small birds within hearing to a remarkable extent
esiM>cially in the summer or autumn months, and will often
ure them out from the concealment of dense brush into
the open, giving opportunity for a fair shot.

CARE OK SPECIMENS IN THE FIELD.

On picking up a bird just shot, often the first thing to
do will -be to kill it and finish the work not completed by
the gun. To do this in a manner that will not injure the
plumage and will accomplish the end in the quickest and
most humane manner, grasp the bird with the thumb
and forefinger across the body and just under and slight-
ly behind the wings, and press firmly and steadily. This
constricts the heart and lungs and death takes place in a

moment. Large birds like hawks and owls cannot be thus
summarily dealt with. In such castw, carefully avoiding
the bill or talons which can often inBict ugly wounds,
lay the bird on its side on the firm ground, when pres-
sure of the knee supplemented by the weight of the body,
will produce the same effect as above. Attempting to
choke a bird by constricting the air passages of the throat
is useless in many case**, as /birds have direct air com-
munication between the lungs, the large hollow bones, and
other cavities and air sacs of the body, and can breathe
through any of them, or even through a shot hole through
the body, as easily as through their natural air channels.
As soon as the relaxation of the body shows that the
bird is dead, carefully wipe off what blood clots nere may
be, and plug the mouth, sometimes the nostrils also, with
cotton batting. It is well to carry a small bottle of corn-
meal in the pocket or creel, and to work some of this into
feathers that are blood-soaked. When this is completed,
and the feathers smoothed out, drop the bird head first
into a cornucopia of paper, fold the open ends carefully
about the tail and lay away in the creel, if one is car-
ried; if not, in a pocket where it will be secure from un-
due pressure until return to camp. Half the battle of
making nice skins is to get them into camp or he.id-
riuarters in good shape. A little extra care in the fieM
will save much work and time in making up.

For cornucopia papers, nothing is better than the ad-
vertising i>ages of current magazines. It is stiff, smooth,
and of convenient size and shape. Folded double it fit^
the breast pocket nicely, and a single page can be used
for a small bird, while a double one is sufficient for manv
of the larger birds.

PREPARATION FOR 8KINNIN0.

A freshly killed bird yet warm is not easy to skin clean-
ly. It is better to wait a bit until the blood and juices
have had time to set or coagulate. During rigor-

mortis, the bird is stiff in the joints and difficult to
handle. In small birds this does not cause much incon-
venience ibut in large ones it does, and in such cases it is
advisaible to wait a little longer until the ibody limbers
and softens before beginning actual skinning operations.
Then replace the throat and nostril plugs wit'h fresh cot-
ton. This is often neglected, much to the sorrow of the
oj)erator, who (subsequently finds that the bird he ex-
pected to be smooth and clean has blert during skinning
and is an exasperating mas® of blood, feathers, and »tomach
juices.

The first thing usually done preliminary to skinning
is to clean off what blood there may yet be remaining
on the plumage. If there has been but little, and corn-
meal was well applied to it at first, n few pinchings of
the hard nodules will cause them to disintegrate and a
little careful scratching with the nail will often free the
feathers of the last traces of iblocd. leaving them in nearly
l>erfect condition. If, however, the stains are mor« ex-
tensive, it will be necessary to wash them and then dry
the spot to its natural flulTiness. Some prefer to defer this
operation until after the skinning operation has been con-
cluded for it is often found that the consequent manipu-
lation has caused the juices to flow again and the work
has largely to be done over. However the procedure is
the same in either case, f.nd may as well be described
here.

■igor-

CLEANINO.

First, wash the soiled parts with a wisp of cotton bat-
ting dipped in clean water. A small soft sponge is most
convenient for this purpose, taking care to stroke the
feathers the right way of the shafts and separating them
from time to time that every part of the stain may be
reached. It is often necessary when large dried clots of
blood are found hardened about the bases of the quills to

lay a pad of wet cotton on the spot and set the bird away
for a few minutest whilf another specimen is taken care of.
Shortly the refractory clot will be found to have softened
and can ibe removed with ease.

DRYINn.

As soon as all foreign matter has been thus removed,
wipe the spot as dry as possible and then apply with an-
other bit of batting, gasoline, benzine, turpentine, or fcero-
sine; wash again until the place is well saturated with
this medium, and freely dust on either planter of paris,
hardwood sawdust, or fine cornmeal to absorb the
moisture. Work it well into the feathers and shake it
out again. Repeat the operation, meanwhile working the
plumage with the fingers and beating it softly with the
flat of the hand or a smooth • ' until the filaments are
dry and well fluffed up. I'erforming the operation in a
current of air facilitates it greatly. As a gonfnil rule,
gasoline or benzine is thi- most satisfactory for the above
use and tiiriwiitine or kerosene should only bp used when
it is prui>osed to dry with plaster of paris. Kcitjsene is
to be used only in default of any of the former. When th^ere
Is grease present on the plumage, or plaster is the drying
medium, the use of one of the above is a necessity, other-
wise it is only a great help in drying quickly. If the wet
spot is small, quick dieft work can be done witli plaster
without anything between it and the water, but ordinar-
ily it prevents the pliister from setting in the feathers
and so causes trout)le.

The choice of the above drying materials depends some-
what upon the s|>e(^imen being handled, and. of course, also
upon what is available. Plaster of paris works most
xjuickly, but unless the bird is white or light coloured it
is very difficult to remove its last traces from the plum
age and the resultant specimen is likely always to look
jl#ll and dingy. Jn lighj; coloured specimens this does not

matter as much. The grpat secret in using pla>fer in th-?
way is to use enough of it. Paradoxically as it may .seem,
the morp that is put on to the feathers the less has to ht*
dusted out. Coarse piaster, gpn<»ral!y **tyled "calcined
fdaster," is be^'er for fleftning purpos*^ than fine " diental
plaster " as its <(>arser grain is easier '.o remove tliiUi tin
impalpable diist of the finer kind.

With a black or dark coloured bird, hardwiMKl saw-dus!
is by far the best drying; medium, but in default of it,
(ornmeal answers well, though not so quickly. Never usi>
pine saw-dust or that made from wood containing pitdi.
It will not absorb the water and is likely to stain. Plum
age may be dryed -without any of the aibove, though it
takes considerable patience to so treat any large surfates
All that has to be done is to keep manipulating the
feathers with the fingers or a piece of dry batting, in the
wind if possible, until the water has evajwrated. The
n>i«iiiptilation is n»<essary to prevent it from drying in
stiff plastered masses and to make it fluff naturally. When
feathers are nearly dry, but seem to refuse obstinately to
assume the light flultiness of nature, it will sometimes
-ave time and energy to 1 ly aside for a few minutes
while other oiKrations are proceeded witli , when it wil'
u-iually be found to have finished the process by natural
evaporation and l>e in good condition to proceed with.

SKINNINO.

The only opciation now preliminary to skinning is to
measure the bird. The only us«>tnl measurement that can-
not be taken from a prepared skin is that of length.
Many collectors use the metric system for this work, but
as it.s results mean little or nothing e.xrept to the expert.
it .seems advisable to adhere to the old English system
which every one under'<tands and which is used still in
the majority of our literature. Inches ard decimal frac-
tions of them are on the whole most satisfactory. I^ay

the bird back dwwn om the rule and hold the tip of the
tail at the wro of the scale. Then extend the head just
enough to straighten out the currea of the neck without
stretching it. The length should be noted on the label at
the time of measurement w that it is not forgotten or
lost. It is best to measure every bird in exactly the same
manner so as to get similar and comparable results.

The moH-t convenient place to make bird skins L, of
course, a table, but sometimes the tail boanl of a wagon,
a board on the knees, or even the knees themselves must
be used where conveniences are lacking. As for tools, a
sharp scalpel, small scissoi-N, and a pair of spring forceps
ifv^ in general all that is necessary; in fact, as in other
handicrafts, a poor workman is usually noted for his fine
collection of tools, and in making bird skins, about the
only instrument that is really necessary is a knife, and a
jackknife will answer every purpose. Other tools are
luxuries and not necessities. To begin, lay the bird on
its back in front of yon and separate the feathers to the
skin from about the middle of the breast bone to the vent.
A wet finger stroked alonj,' the line of demarcation will
cause the down to lie back nicely and expose the skin.
With scalpel or knife, cut through the skin the length of
this line. If possible make the cut shorter, beginning at
the end of the breast bone, if necessary, make it longer,
but carry it down through the vent in each case. Care
must be taken in this matter that the cut includes only
the skin and is not continued through the walls of the
abdomen, which are very thin, in which car^e the viscera
is sure to emerge and make a mess of the feathers. The
safest way to make the cut is to insert the point of *' ^
knife between the skin and the abdomen and cut outwards.
When the cut is made, separate the skin from the body
on each side, in a small bird with the back of the knife
or the blunt end of the scalpel, with a large one the
fingers will be the best tool. When this stage is reached.

pull one leg out at right angles to th*- side of thp body,
and press in on the heel. The knee joint will then show
within the skin and next to the body. Disconnect this
joint witn either the knife or scissors, and do the same
with the other leg. You will be able then to separate
the »kin from the muscle a «hort way up the thighs.

The next thing to do is to cut off the tail. The scissors
are generally the best tool to use here. Stan<l tJie bird up-
right on its shoulders, bend the tail sharply over th-
back and, at its base, where the tissues are drawn tight,
make the cut, severing the tail from the body. This is
the most critical point in the an.ateur's bird skinnin:;
and if here you cut through the skin on the rump as well
as the meat and bone, you can comfort yourself with the
reflection that almost everybody else has dotie the same wi'th
their first skins. The tinal bonos of the tail must be
left attached to the large feathers which are anchored to
them and which are needed for su))port. If,
however, you have manag^'d this cut successfully, tl>e
skin can be separated from the body dowii the back until
a line opposite the top of the breast-cut is reached, after
which the skinning must continue all around the bird,
and the pelt as you proceed will gradually turn inside
out. The actual skinning process requires a knack to do
it nicely, that only experience can give. It consists largely
of a scraping with the nails rather than a pulling or
knifing, and can only be acouired by practice. At times
a little pulling will be needed, but it should bo but spar-
ingly indulged in, as the skin stretches very readily.
Sometimes, and in some species, th« skin sticks tightly to
the body, and the knife has to be freely u-^ed in separa-
tion. No definite rules can be given and each moment
the operator must use the method that produces the re-
sults. Large birds are apt to be very awkward at this
stage, and it is usually more convenient, as soon as the
tail has been cut off. and the back skinned a short way

down, to HU»p«nd the bird by a chain or string. Then no
riort is necpssarjr to h-^'' .p and all attention and both
hands can be directv ..rds th> actual removal of the

skin. A good stout ti;.u with a scrong 6sh hook at the
end is convenient. It can be thrown over b beam, branch,
or tent pole, tied off. and the ibody hung on the hook.
The barb of the hook should be removed and the point
filed »harp. The hook can be inserted in the body «ny-
wliere about the pelvis where good and convenient an-
chorage is found. Experience will soon show the best
place.

The skinning now proceeds all round the bird until the
wings are reached. These are cut through close to the
breast and unjointed. If the knife is directed at what
corresponds to the arm pit and cuts downward and inward,
« point will 'be found where the joint will opeoi and disarti-
culate almost of itself. This is another little trick that
experience only can teach.

As soon as the wings are cut off, the neck almost skins
itself down to the head. The great majority of birds can
be skinned right over the head ; in other words, the neck
skin is larger than the head and the latter pulls through
the former. We will continue with this assumption and
take up the question of other conditions later. A little
difficulty is often encountered by the amateur in get-
ting the skin just over the ibase of the skull, but a little
humoring and coaxing will usually accomplish the end.
It finally goes over the critical point \vith a rush, and the
ears are reached. The ears in birds are external cavities
of considerable extent in all xpecies. In hawks, they are
very large, and in owls they are almost cavernous, but
they are always lined with a continuation of the outer
integumen. When the bird is turned inside out, as we
have this one now, the ears resemble little bags of skin
embedded and running ibackward in'to the skull. In small
species this bag can ibe pinched up between the fingers

and pulled out of its cavity. In large ones it h^s to he
I'ut off ut its tnuutli. When this is doiii*, the HkitiiiiiiK is
coutiiiued di/wu over tlie head until thf cyns ar«> rj-aclit'd.
Tli«>s« show up Of* large dark bluish 4NMli«« under a thin
l^.ltn of partially trans.par«-nt tissue. At the tirHt I'u; at
the junoture of this tissue witli the skin, the bright color-
ation of the eyeball showt<. This is another critical |H)int
where care must he taken. Sonte colliH-iors use the 8cis-
sors for the operation and others the knife. It is beHt to
use whatever seems blie nio«*t convenient as the o|»er«-
tion now is to cut th*? inner lining orf the eyelid away
from the skin. Tl skull can, at the same time, then be
severe<l from the neck and a little planning will make ii
evident that the tongue and throat tissue can be .se|»arated
from the lower juw bone, and remain attached to the neik
and body.

The skin can now be transferred to the table and the
eyes taken from their sockets, the back of the skull
and raof of the mouth cut away, and as mucli of the in-
terior removed ot» possible. None of the exterior or out-line
frame work of the head, nor the articulation of the jaw-
bones »»hould be disturbed e.\cept to remove what little
muscular or futty tissue may cover them. The brains will
'be found to be enclose<l in a tough integumen, and a little
experience will enable the ojjerator to remove it in one
mass expeditiously and cleanly.

The wings and legs have now to be attended to, as so
far they have only been cut from the body, and all their
n.uscular development remains within the skin. Taking
the enlarged upi>er end of the humerus or upper arm
bone of the wing in the left hand, it skins easily down
to the first or elbow joint. Here there are two cours's
open to the collector. The large flight feathers, the
secondaries, are anchored directly to the bone from this
jdint onward, and if the specimen is ever to be mounted,
it is most desirable that these feathers be not stripped

from tho bonp. HnniP birdn are very long in thiH. Joint,
uud »I1 the HM«h cannot bo r»nioveil from the inttide of the
^kin. but an iucioiion h«« to be moile from the under «.ir-
fiMie of thu wing for thiii purpoHe and this will ^te de*
Mcribed later. Holding the wing 'by the humerus by one
hand, or hanging it up on the hook from which the body
, has been removed, it will be found quite poH!*iible, with a
little care, to Hkin down the upper or forward ?«ide of
thu wing without dinturbing the fastenings of the flight
feathers. When the flesh in thus laid bare from shoulder
to wrist joint. it must all be removed from the bonen, and
the latter made ax clean as irassible. The Hame operation
is performed with the other wing, and then the legs are
l^roceeded with. After doing the wings, the legs will offer
no difficulties. There are no large feathers to be looked
after, and it itimply meaiLs clean skinning down to heel
joint at the upper end of the tarsus and the lubsequent re-
moval of the flesh.

The bird is now skinned and turned inside out. It
must all be gone over and every particle of fat or flesh
removed from it. In most birds, it peels off readily in
flakes of greater or less extent, in ducks, loons, ojid
many other water birds, hv>wever, it will be found that
the body feathers extend through the skin and their bases
are embe<lded in a thick layer of tenacious fat, and all
covered with a tough intepumen that makes its removal
difficult, but if the bird is to last any length of time, it
must all bo removed urtjl each quill stands up clean
and clear by itself. It will be noticed that the quill ends
are arranged in more or less regular order, leaving the
lanes of fat crossing each other at angles. Each one of
these lanes c.in be scored down its length with a sharp
knife, after which the grease and oil may be scraped out
and removed.

Throughout the process of skinning and " fleshing," as
the inner cleaning of the skin is called, there will be more

or Urn bImMl, grMi<w>. or otiwr juici«« Aowtng. «nd « good
Niipply of alM»r4)«>nt shniitil bv kept readily to haiitl
throughout the work for instant appluution. The bfii.
material lor thin work is thw itome hiirdwtxHi MiwtluHt
mentioned bfforo. the next be»t iit a good «ne cornmeal,
and the third cl nice in plawtir of parlK. Tho Mtw-dunt
ha** a faculty of staying where it i» put, and when coverml
•vith it, HU..h silippery things an clota of blood or frag-
rnentH of fat are very easily picked up and removed. It
also had a cleau.>r feel under the hand and g "'en a flrnier
hold to part«t under manipulation. Whenever bloody,
greasy, or other ma^Ms arc observed, they should be
thoroughly <-overed «ith the dust, soaked up with it and
removed, and the application repeated until all in com-
paratively clean. In handling very gren v bird^ like
waders, the subject should be constantly deluged with
absorbent, as the soft fat readily melts under the heat of
the hand into clear oil that permeates everything. In
these oanes. the great secret of making cleam skinit is
speed of manipulation, a soft touch, and plenty of absorb
ent. At all times, of oourtie, it is necessary to keep the
ends of the plumage away from the grease and dirt of the
interior of the skin, bociy, or hands. The knack of doing
this while proceeding with other f>perations is only to be
gained by experience and practice. The hands require
frequently to be washed in the absorbent and then used
to stroke the feathers back out of the way. Kach opera-
tor soon originates his own mannerisms in doing this, and
as long as they accomplish the end, they are good.

The skin has now been cleaned and is ready for the
poison. The most convenient jMiison is dry white arsenic
-which should be dusted all over the inside of the skin
with a stiff brush like a shaving brush or a wisp of cot-
ton batting held in the forceps or tietl to a stick. See
that the fleshy parts such as the base of the tail, the skull,
and leg bones, receive thorough applications. It is best

ill

to iNtrfnrm this work on a cipan <*hM>t of pap*r mo that th»
iirHviiic ihul MitilU ubitut can Im raught and r»tuinc«t tu
thi" uriKinul rpc»«|itttcln uiid um>i| over hkhhi. U« I'arrful
in handliuK tho urMonir nut tu gpt any wor* than pon.
•<iblH uu the hundrt and to krop it from Hying about in th#
air wh«>r0 it may itf inhaM. Tlieri* i» no d«ng4>r
in handling artipnif in thiH mannpr unl^it g t quanti-
tiuH art! uved ami continuouftly for Minip time. The im-
iwrtant |>oint for the ordinary collector to otHierve in to
km-p it out from under the linger naiU where it ia apt
tu cauiM) HOiaU wreit that while local in their extent and
of Bhort duration, are oftt-n rather painful. Always wai»h
the hands and clean the nails after poisoning skins. Ar-
•tenioal soap is alwuys to be preferred for iwi^oning when
there it* a good Miipply of hardwood Haw-du»t at hand.
The suap is brushed well over the Hkin in the form of
stifl suds, and then the whole is duoted with the aaw-
dust, after which it may be bundled without the handi*
coming into contact with the poison at all. Fine comm«al.
in plac<» of ijaw-dMHt, works very well for this also.

The Hoap is also of advantage us it moiHtens the skin
which twme4inie« has dried i)erc«ptibly during the latter
operations, and is found a little stiff in turning right
side out again, as .^ now to be proceeded with.

After the skin has been poisoned, the eye sockets in the
skull should bo fill4^d with <'otton batting, packed in tightly
enough to fill the orbit but not to bulge the skin when
the head is returned; and winps of cotton likewise wrap-
ped about the leg bone to replace the flesh that has been
removed. In small birds this latter in not necessary, but in
large onex having heavy muscular legs it is importanr.
The head' then should "be carefully worked back through
the neck. This sometimew to the beginner is a critical
operation, but patience and <-oaxing should always ac-
complish it. Do not be disheartened if on the first skin
or so the neck splits on going either way over the head:

Mlaott •very on* hM don* that in th»ir »»rly attrBpt*.
A cartful pull on the projMtinff rndu of th* primary wing
feathara. and the l<i|ii, guided by careful manipulation
within tha akin, will return those member* to their
natural condition. Taking the skin, now right side out.
by the biU and holding it up and ahaking alightly. while
•smoothing th« aurfaoe with the hand, tha feathers
should fall amootJily into plac», and the akin, if it does
not need further cleaning, in ready for making up.

It often happens with even the mo«t akilful skin-maker
that tha flrat appearance cf the akin when thua returned
lit far from being a joy to the h*art. Blood and Juices
have often run frwn the mouth, the eyet» punctured by
shot have emptied their contents upon the plumage of the
neck and head, and the whole remainder is soaked with
Krease. or blood, or 4)oth. from the skinning. This is an
extreme case, but the conditions are often found to a
greater or less degree. The remedy is washing as before
described. In extreme cases of grease, the whole skin
had better be put right into gas<dine. or other like grease
rfmoving agent, and thoroughly washed, and if no water
lias to be put on for blood, it is a small matter to dry as
before described.

In caso of the lorg winged birds mentioned before, it
will be necessary after the skin has been turned to open
the wing on the under side, making a cut just under the
large under wing coverts— the feathers that cover the ba«es
of the flight quills— from elbow joint to wrist, skin forward
and remove thr flesh adherent to the bones through this
opening, after vhich all is poisoned and the incision care-
fully sewed up as later described.

Some birds, as various ducks and wood-pec5rers. have

lieads too large to draw through the neck skin. In this

case, the neck is cut off as soon as it is evident that it

will not come through without unduly stretching the

'''''"•*"*' yt*'' the remainder of the work is finished and
<S287&— 3

•i

the skin returned, an incision is made at the base of the
skull and down the back of the neck, through which the
head can be proceeded with as usual. This cut should
also be sewed up afterwards.

The next thing to do is making up. In this, no two
operators follow the same method, each one to a greater
or less extent Inventing processes of his own that he
finds produce the most satisfactory results. The whole
object is to make the specimen look like a dead bird,
arranged in orderly manner to show all its characters
neatly and clearly and to take up as little room in the
cab'net as possible. General directions may be given as
follows, but in the detaiLs the collector will soon hnd
methods that will appeal to him, and which, as long as they
produce the result, will be satisfactory. The skin with thf
feathers smoothed into place is laid down on its back, the ab-
dominal incision lying open on the top, and bill pointing to
the left, a small stick is taken a little shorter than the
length of the neck and body, and wrapped around with
a wisp of cotton batting to imitate as closely as possible
the shape and size of the neck and body. For most small
birds, a burnt match makes a most convenient neck rotl,
and if the operator is a smoker, the materials will al-
ways be ready to hand. Larger birds require something
heavier, but any sliver of wood or convenient twig will
do. Many collectors use no neck rod at all, but a view
of a cabinet full of skins with broken necks, will at once
convince any one of the importance of this little feature.
The neck end of the artificial body thus made is intro-
duced until the end of the rod is wedged firmly into the
skull, its exact location there being a matter of experience
and trial. The body skin is then drawn together over the
body and the general effect noted, and smaller or larger
wisps of cotton introducd with forceps or a straightened
wire wherever it seems to need it after which all is
smoothed down and the abdominal incision sewed up. For

sewing up. almost any needle will do. and any thread,
from ordinary cotton on a small .b 1 to a piece of string
on a large one. Begin the seam at .he vent, always sew-
ing up against the plumage and passing the needle from
^.i^ r.siue of the skin outwards, as in the " base^ball
sUtch. Ati -I tion has to be paid that the thread does
not pass O'er bunches of feathers, and press them
»i,» or down, out of ,plaee. It should pass freely between
their bah^ without perceptible displacement. If it has
been done neatly, with a little manipulation, the plum-
age ■will close over the seam hiding it completely

The body has next to be sexed. Lay it in front'of you
on Its righ «de. the back toward you. and cut with ill
sors or knife through all the ribs and down to the elongat
ed process of the pelvis that projects downward from the
side Gently pry open the slit thus formed and with the
back of the knife part the viscera from the back of the
body cavity at the " small of the back." If the bird is
a male two 'bean shaped bodies will show at the base of
he kidneys. These are the testes and are normally of a
light yellow colour though sometimes almost black with
the suffusion of blood from shot wounds. The left is a!
ways the larger, sometimes greatly so. In the female the
ovaries are to be found in the same place, a mass of small
round yellow bodies. In spring and during the breeding
season, these sexual organs are large and most conspciu-
ous objects and can hardly be overlooked, often filling the
body cavity to a considerable extent. In the autumn, in
adults they shrink to very small proportions and
have te be looked for carefully. In juveniles that have
never bred they are often microsco,.ic in size and some-
times almost impossible to recognize with certainty At
such times the super-renal glands that lie in the same
locality are often mistaken for testes on the one hand
and ovaries on the other. They lie flatter to the body than
''' 2M7S^3l^^™ *"'* **"^"^'«" between them must be

avoided. Unless the observer is certain of the organs he
sees it is 'better not to mark the sex at all or follow it
with an interrogation point.

The sex is now to be marked upon the label. The feet
of the specimens are crossed, and the label tied across their
juncture. Some collectors tie the label upon only one leg,
but when so done the danger of tha leg pulling off in later
handling is great and the double fastening; is greatly to be
preferred even though it may so give the student a lit-
tle more trouble in his fine examinations and measnrings.
The exact shape to be given the bird skin is now a mat-
ter of consideration and varies with the species and mak-
ers ideas. A few suggestions, however, for guidance, are
advisable. In ordinary and small skins the head should
be extended with the bill pointing straight ou* along 'the
axis of the body. It i« much easier to stow it away in the
cabinets and in the .field, since if bent forward, or to either
side, there is less dan^fer of the neck getting broken when
the skin is dry and brittle. Long necked birds such as
herons should have the head bent back over the body, and in
birds of the above class if the feet are drawn up in front
to the breast, it will make a more compact skin and be
equally available for study. Of course, if the neck is so
bent, a neck rod cannot be used and a simple wisp of cot-
ton should be inserted instead. In all large birds, every
effort should be made to keep them as small as possible while
exhibiting their details to the fullest extent. Small birds
with pronounced crests can have the head laid flat with
the bill pointing to one side and the crest raised to its
fullest extent.

One of the easiest and most satisfactory ways to ar-
range the plumage on a bird at this stage is to grasp the
skin between the thumb and forefinger under the wings
and pinch it together when it will be found that the back
plumage will readily stroke into place, lying fair and
smooth. It is then laid down on its back; the

breast and under plnmage arranged with Bngprs or for-
ceps; and the irings laid in place at the sides. Some do
this on a small bed of thin sheet cotton batting, raising
up the latter at the side as the wings are placed and
holding them so with a pin stuck into the table as a
brace. When both sides are thus arranged, the finishing
touches can be put on the breast, the cotton finally closed
over and the two sides of the wrapping fa<»tened by twisting
together between thumib and forefinger fine filaments from
opposite sidee. Another way is to pin together « ring of paper
to the diameter of the intended ekin. «nd as soon as all ar-
rangements of the plumage are made slip it within the
circle which will hold all in place while drying. Large
skins are easily arranged by using cloth in place of the
cotton wrapping. The very best material for this is old
mosquito bar that has been wet and dried in a crumpled
state. The crumpling gives a very agreeable elasticity and
the open texture makes easy pinning, so that just the proper
tension can be placed at each point, and beautiful slrins
can be so made. Cheesecloth or other open goods are quite
satisfactory for this purpose. The sfcin should now be put
away to dry. in the shade, and of course out of reach of
Mn or water. The length of time the drying takes de-
' ds upon atmospheric conditions and the siae and condi-
..on of the specimen. In some climates, specimens abso-
lutely refiise to dry at all. and .then .special arrangements
have to be made for drying artifically, but this applies
more to tropical collecting than in our temperate climates.
,n^"'**4.K°° **" "^^^^ ''■ ""^'^"^ ""^"^^ the best stuff-
aniLl ^''•"T^J'U "^^"'*''* '*"^*^*°» «^«^Pt that of
nuZl ***"^**^°°- Cotton letting when to be had in
quantities is perhaps best for even the largest birds, and
small ones is the most desirable; however, tow. oakum
moss, or grass (if dry), frayed rope ends, or even news-
papers are good-anything that is convenient and soft,
and of vegetable or mineral origin. Wool or other animal

products in a skin are invitations to insect pests too press-
4ng for them to refuse and should never be used under any
consideration.
The (following is the formula for arsenical soap:—

White ibar soap, rather soft than hard.. 2 lbs.

Powdered arsenic 2 lbs.

Camphor , *

— ,_ ••••••••., a OSS'.

(arbonate of wda 6 om.

Alcohol a «.„

jj,. , BOSS.

8Mce the soap and melt in small quantity of water over
s^ow fire. «tir frequently. Add soda and ^ir in arsenic.
D.ssoT ,e camphor in alcohol and add. Stir thoroughly
and bo,l. Pour into tins or other vessel, and sKr oc-
casionally while cooling to prevent arsenic from settling
to bottom. This should cool quite solid but work up
readily ,nto stiff lather under application of water and
a brush.

When railway connexions are good it is often a<lvis-
able to send in to museum fresh skins, to be cleaned or
fleshed under better facilities than are afforded in the
field, or for the purpose of mounting, as material
can always be mounted in better fashion from fresh than
from dry skins. When the weather is not too warm
such specimens can be safely sent for considerable dis-
tances If filled with padding wet with the following solu-
tion:— "

Water . .

-, s pt.

Commercial car<bolif acid i q^.

SMALL MAMMALS.

COLLBCTINO.

The collector should carefully read the introduction,
loi collection of small mammals— up to the sine
of the woodchuck-tlie trap is the principal reliance

of the collector. The gun is of service among the larger
of these, but more as «n auxiliary than as a main de-
pendence. For these larger sized animals, the various
forms of the Newhouse trap catching 'by the foot is the
great standby, but for mice, shrews, and the smaller fry,
som« of the small traps a' .anged as deadfalls or chokers,
give the best satisfaction. There are many of these made,
mostly on one or two general principles and varying
from each other only in minor details.

The principal points to be observed in choosing these
kinds of traps are: lightnrss and compactness, that a
great number can be oarried with ea«©, and that th«>y catch
or ki;i without crushing the skull. Price is also to be
considered as large numbers are generally used and many
are lost.

For trapping larger forms mentioned above, better in-
structions are to be found in works on fur trapping than
can be included in these pages, and for such specimens but
a few general suggesHons can be made, experience being
the best teacher as to nlaces and artf«' schemes by which
to circumvent the wary.

The traps should be laid along a route that can be gone
oyer morning and evening. It is a good scheme to bait a sun-
ply of the small traps in c*mp. and then carry them along
the route to be covered in the pockets or in a bag--of course
unset. They are best placed in the evening as most of
the game of this sort is nocturnal in habit. A notebook
and pencil should be carried along and notes made of the
position of each trap as it is set. otherwise, the memory

r Z^ ^J^'l ^° '■^'*" ** **•* '»«** ^'»'t i«»t "'hwe each
has been placed, and some w^ill be overlooked. The use of
the notebook can best "be explained by an example of some
entries i~"^

" starting east from road by blasted stump ten paces
trap under overhanging root. East by north, . o rods*
under black stump. Twenty feet to right, by larse
stone." etc., etc., to end of route.

A course laid out in this manner will be easy to follow-
again and the loss of overlooked traps will be small.

Traps should be set under the upraised ends of logs,
stones, or other such likely looking places. It is well to
examine the small patches of dry dust here and there,
especially around large solitary objects such as stumps
and boulders, to see if footprints indicate that it is the
resort of game, and traps put as thought advisable. Long
grass is often labyrinthed near the ground with the cUar
cut trails and tunnels of small animals and these should
be searched for and planted with traps. In fact there
are thousands of places that the trapper can try, and
the more varied and diverse the localities chosen are, ^he
more chance is there of securing a variety of speoies.

The traps should certainly be visited early in the morn-
ing, and indeed as often as possible, for small mammals
spoil very much more quickly than larger ones or birds,
and with but a short exposure to the heat of the day are
practically worthless. They also have propensity to eat
each other up, and many cases are sure to be found
where trapping has served to furnish an easy dinner to
a close relative of the victim.

Experience will soon show what are the profitable local-
ities to work about a new camp, and the work can then
be largely confined to them though it is always well to
keep a few traps set in other locations, for every once in
a while a new species will be found in some of them.

PreparAtion.

The measurement of small mammals in the flesh is far
more important than of birds, and should always be taken
when the skin is made. The important ones to ^ake are
three, length, length of tail, and length of hind foot. All
these are to be taken in straight lines as with a pair of
dividers or a stiff rule, and not following the undulations
of the body as with a tape.

Length. -The length is from the tip of the nose to th»
end of the last vertelira of the tail. The best way in the
tield is to lay the animal down on its back on a board,
and extending it to full extent, prick pins into the board
at either extremity, then remove anim^il and meanure the
distance between with either metric or inch scale, divided
to tenths.

Length of foi(.— This meaHnrement is from the base of
tail to end of last vertebra. Lay specimen over the edge
of board with body hanging down and tail flat on upper
surface. Arrange animal so the edge of board fits into
the angle formed by tail and body, see that the tail ex-
tends true and straight and at right angles to edge of
board, and t.-tick in pin at extreme end of tail bones.
Measure distance t>etiween edge and pin as before.

Length of hind foot.— This is from the tip of the nail of
the longest toe to the heel, i'lace the foot flat down on
the board as if walking flat footed, supporting the body
with one hand while the sther arranges the foot straight
and places pins, one at the tip of the claw, and the other
close against heel. Measure space between pins.

CLEANING.

Cleaning is much more easily performed on mammals
than on birds. All that has to be done is to brush out
Mood and dirt with stiff brush. If washing is required,
the dryinif is easily accomplished with liberal applica-
tions of cornmeal or hardwood saw-dust worked into fur
and brushed out again. Repeat until dry.

SKINNING.

Lay animal on its back and make the incision from be-
tween the forelegs almost to vent. Remove body through
this opening taking care not to stretch the skin more
than can be avoided. Take particular care in the region
of the eyes and lips as the skin is easily cut there. Sever

the l^gs from the body an fa»t «s they aie reached, and
retnrn to them when body and skull are remored. skin-
ning them as far down to the feet as possible, and clean
ing the meat from off the bones, '"he tail shonld bf> palled
from the skin sheath out between the tlngers or by means
of a cleift stitch.

Go over skin with care and remove all fragments of
flesh or fat, especially the latter, from its Interior, scrap-
ing it to get oat as much oil as po6»*ible. Then poison
with either dry arsenic or arsenical soap as before de-
scri'bed for birds on page 27, Cut annealed or soft iron
wire of diameter depending upon siae of specimen, about
same length as that of body and tail, and insert otie eml
into tail sheath, working the poison into it at the same
time, and the other up into head. Fill the skin nearly
to its natural size, and shape, with cotton batting, tow,
excelsior, oakum, or any other vegetable Hbre that may
be conveiuient. Never use wool or other animal ftbre under
any consideration. In animals of the larger size, the tail
wire should be taper wrapped with cotton or other fibre,
to fill out naturally, and the legs should be wired as well.

The skin should now be sewed up with the usual base-
ball stitch, i.e., with the needle always passing from the
inside of the skin outward at each stirch, also catch lips
together with thread and tie. Mow lay skin on small
board or piec« of bark with its belly down. Arrange tail
out straight behind, the hind legs extended backward in
like direction and tihe fore legs forward and parallel
with the body, never projecting from the side. Tie the
label to a hind foot and pin all the niembers in place by
passing pins through them into the board beneath. Ar-
range the minor details as the ears, whiskers, and so
forth, and set away in shade to dry.

In all mammal specimens the skull should be saved,
and form part of the specimen. Disarticulate it from thp
neck and carefully remove all fleeh matter possible, >«ith-

ont injury to the small honj proc«M«fi. Th» brain can
be remored with a jet of water from a Kjringe. In damp
weather it may be neco8<Hiry to sprinkle rongh cleaned
Hkolls with powdered borax to keep remainder of tissue
from decompoHinfr, but do not use arsenic for this or salt,
if it can be avoided. The skull should be numbered to
correspond with the skin or, what is better in the field,
attached to it.

LAIUIE MAMMALS.

COLLBCTINO AND PRKPARATION.

The collection of large mammals is really nothing but
hunting in its generally accepted sense, «nd no special
directions can be given for it here. For such information,
consult the various works on the subject, and hunters of
experience.

The technic of removing skins from large mammals is
generally well known among the hunting fraternity, and
requires but slight mention. The manner, however, of
making up of skins for scientific purposes is only slightly
understood, and the following directions are to cover these
requirements.

MEASUREMENTS.

Preparatory to skinning an animal, there are a few
measurements that it is very desirable to take. These
should all 'be made in straight lines except when noted
otherwise, i.e., as if with a pair of compasses, and not
following the undulations of the body as with a tape line.
A certain amount of care will be necessary to get these
with exactness. The animal should be laid on the ground
and posed as naturally as possible, care being taken that
shoulder heights and leg lengths be about what they
should be if the parts were compressed by the weight of
the animal standing.

Length.-rrom tip of noM to tip of booM of tail.

Htight of .houlder, i.e.-Di.t.noo from groand to top
of shonlder bUd«.

Htight 0/ e/6oir.-DUt«n-« from ground to point of elbow
on forrlei. and attachment of hamstring on hind.

Bodi, leii«*/i.-Di«tanc« from front of shoulder blade be-
low base of neok to centre of hip joint.

M'idth.-Distance across breast between front edges of
shoulder blades.

<;ir«fc.-,I>i8tance around body just behind foreleg, and
also in front of hind legs. These two latter should be
made with iape line, and especially if animal is loni;
haired, the tape should be palled tightly down, and dose
to the skin.

With these measurements, it should be comparatirely
easy for a taxidermist to reconstruct the animal's general
outline. A few other minor measurements may be morp
or lew desirable suoh as distance from tip of nose to
corner of eye. and from the latter to base of ear. also
girth of neck behind ears, and of legs at rarious stated
pointM.

The measurements taken, the skinning can be proceeded
with. The first incision is made from between the fore-
legs on the centre line of the belly, back to the tip of the
tail. Cuts are then made across the body and down the
back of each leg through the foot pads, or between th<.
hoofs. The whole skin can be removed from the legs and
body through these cuts. In case of large soft footed ani-
mals, the feet and toes should be skinned their entire
length, and in ruminants, down to the hoof sheath, and
all fleshy parts opened up and cleaned. The entire leg
bones should either be left attached by their ligamentary
connexions or out off close to hoofs or claws. In any
event, they should be cleaned and fwved as part of the
specimen. Be careful around the genetalia not to slash
the parts, but retain as much of their general shape as
possible.

With long hairvd unimala th« belly cut ran be continued
up the throat to the nhort hair of the lower jaw. and
the head removed through it, but in iihort haired anioiaN
like de*r and antelope, nueh a iieani could never be Newed
without showing badljr, so the opening tihould be made
for them along the back of the neck. With horned ani-
maU this ie, of couree, neoewary in any event. With them,
a Y shaped cut should be made with the branches extend-
ing to the base of the horns and the stem extending down
the back of the neck as far as necessary for the removal
of the skull.

The skin around the bases of the horns Hhould be care-
fully pried and cut away from them, and the ears cut off
close to the skull. Be particularly careful about the eyes
so as not to cut the lids in any way. In front of the eyes
in many ruminants is situated a deep pit. the tear duct,
vhere ih« skin runs down well into the skull, and lie« c1om>
to the bone. The lining should be r«>moved from the bone
with the utmost care. About the mouth, cut the lips free
from the head close up to the jaw bones and cut the nose
off well back towards the cartilage of the skull.

When the skin is linally entirely removed from the
hody. flesh off as much of the adherent fat and other tissue
as iiossible. spread out flat on the ground and rub in
handiuls of salt. Take i»articular attention that the nose,
lips, bases of the ears, and feet are well salted. Attach
good strong label with full data, and dry «kin outrvpread
in the shade. Do not attempt to dry in the sun. or by
artificial heat.

Clean the skull of as much meat as possible, and dry
also, marking it plainly to correspond with skin. Do not,
unless absolutely necessary, hack away base of skull to
remove brains, but extract them with spoon-«haped
spatula through spinal opening. Scientifically, mammal
skulls are of as much and in some cases of even more
importance than ^ins, and should always be carefully
preserved.

Eiaaiii* skin from time to tin*, MpMially aroand the
•dgM wbcr* it baa • tend«noy to curl ov»r on itwlf, and
around tht trahjr part* ci th* noM and fMt, and wb«r-
»T«r it may bava fallen into folda. and if tbaaa parta a««m
to ba alow in drying, pin tbem out ao aa to azpoaa tbeni
to tba air. Wben thorougbly dry. tb» akin may ba folded
or rolled up and packed, but if to remain for any length
of time, it abould be occaaionally reopened to make suru
tbat all ia well.

When within re«rh of good railway connexion wita the
muaeum, if the akin ia well packed with «alt, it may b«
aent in green, to be mounted or taken care of there. AI
wayH notify conMigneex, liowever, «ith4»r by letter or tele-
graph that ttpetrinien in nm-h condition iH on the way, mo
they may he ready to give it inatant attention on arrivil.
If you do thlH, u«e plenty of Halt— it ia impowiible to u>e
too much— and Hee that it im in immediate contact with
all parta of the fretth akin. Another way in which akins
may be aent in in a fresh state ia to imwerHe in a atronK
i>alt aolution and head up in barrel or keg.

Never use alum ou mammal ttkina. There are many salt
and alum formulae published, but the latter causen in
definite shrinking, and hardening, and renders all later
tanning or mouutiug ditUcult and unaatisfactory.

BEFT1LE8. AMPHIUUMS, AND FISH.

OULIXTTINa.

The collecting of reptiles, and amphibians, ih often com-
paratively eaiiy once the subjects are found. All that has
to be done is to catch them. The agility and expertness, of
cours<*, neve«i»ary to tiiis end vary with the species. Slug-
gish toads can be merely picked up, while the more active
lizards are extremely quicV .in their movements and it re-
quires considerable agility to take them. The haibits and
habitats of the diflerent forms are so numerous and varied

in char«ptcr 'that i' would bo out of t>Uo<> to atti^inpt to
Ko into lengthy dmcriptionM of drtaiird tuvthod^ of cap-
tur* h«r«. About the only point that nerda Hpecial men-
tion is in reference to iinakpii. In Canada, the only Muaka
of which any fear need be ithown in capture, ia the rattle
nnake. Thtre art no other poigonout reptilei in the
Dominion. In its variuUN foriuM. the rattle unake geta into
(-anada in the southern Ontario pf^innular, «nd up along
the ti«orgi«n Bay foant and ialandit. and along the Int4>rna-
tional Boundary bt'lt acroHH the prairifw province**, moun-
tain regions, and Mouthern British Columbia.

Though the danger from the bitex of thcHe Northern
rattle Mnakeii has been generally over eiilimatfd, they arc
cupable uf inilicting iieriou<4 and mu)«t painful wouudM.
siiid should b*- approached with care. However, an they
(unnot spring at one. and at the mont can only strike
about half their own length from their coil, a little caution
will enable one to catih theni with a forked Htick across
the neik clone up to the head. The easiest way to carry
»ny kind of reptile in the Held is in small cotton bags tied
with draw strings atraut the throat. To kill, immerse
Itug and contents in a pail, and let remain lor a couple
of hours completely covered with water.

Ueptiles, amphibians, and other cold bJooded animals
lan often be sent in alive. Small ones can be placed in
a box with moist paper, leaves, moss, or other such ma-
terial that will keep them from shaking about, and as
they require but little air. unless the receptacle is her-
metically sealed, they will come through by mail well
enough. Larger Hpe<-imens. of course, should 'be expressed.
Wherever possible, it is better to send in individual or
small collections in this way than as liquid preparations.

PRK8KRVATI0N.

Reptiles. amphit>iani4. and fish are usually prttierved in
Huid preservatives, either alcoholic or formalin. Kither
of the following formulae are satiafiactory : —

Formalin (Shying 40% solution).. ..4 parts.

^»*" 98part,.

or
Alcohol (commercial 95%-97%).. ..10 parts.

-„^»*" 4 parts.

ine specimens should have openings made on the belly
before immersing in these solutions as otherwise they will
decompose internally before the preservative has time tn
penetrate, and the accumulation of gas thus formed
will invariably burst the abdomen. 1/ a hypodermic
syringe is carried, the liquid should be injected into the
abdominal cavity in several places, down the throat and
up the anus. Otherwise, the abdomen should be opened
up with a longitudinal cut sufficient in length to allow
free access of the liquid to the interior.

In all cases, fasten a label to the specimens preferably
written with well dried wat«flT>roof India ink, Knt with a
good black lead pencil as second choice. If a number of
specimens are gathered at the same time, and place, one
label in the container will do for all. but in that case
nothing else should be included without proper distinguish-
ing data, fastened directly to it, that no confusion may
possibly arise.

Without doubt, copper containers with screw caps are
the best for such material, but any wide mouth bottle or
the ordinary fruit sealers with the rubber washers and
screw tops are most excellent if they can be carried
through the exigencies of the field.

It is often difficult to get corks for large bottles, of close
enough grain to prevent leakage. Upen or porous corks
if soaked a few minutes in melted paraffin, candle ends
will do nicely, and will be found perfectly safe.

If the objects are large and thick they should have
the above liquor drained off the second day and replaced
with fresh. In some cases it is safest to repeat this again
a few days afterward, after which all danger of spoiling
should be passed.

-t;

Ja "il* ^*'*' *•**" ^^^ specimens have to stand handling
Jnii'?*^u"' ^ *" travellin«. the containers should be

turbance of the specimens by splashing.

COLLBCTINO.

nJ'^V?""*''*"*' *°''*''"°'*"* '*"• ^'o^^ctinK insects is the
tl K„f n '\^"«'^ f'»'-"» o' folding nets on the mar-
Ket. but all. when opened for use. are fundamenUlIy. only
scoop nets of fine .tout mesh on « metal ring about 6
mches m diameter. fa«t*ned to the end of a sHck from
3 to 5 feet long. With the^ the insects are cap-
tured either by quick scooping swoops or by stealthy ar-

holding the net open by drawing out on the tip with the
tree Hand. It takes some experience -and technic to re-
move butterflies or moths from the net and kill them
without distuHbing the fine scales that cover the bodies
and -wings and give them their peculiar coloration.

It IS generally regarded better with Lepidoptuous in.
sects to stun them before removal to the killing bottle
To do thi« catch the thorax through the folds of%he net'
behveen the thumb and forefinger just under the wings
and pmch smartly. This paraly^ the large nerve ganglfa
situated there and stops fluttering immediately. The sub
kUling." ***^° ^ ^'"^ transferred to the cyanide jar for

an?uXT;aWe.' '"^ ^"' ""^"^ *''^ '^ "^'^ "— -^y.

bottle, the larger the mouth the better. Small battery
jars without any throat or necking are nearly ideal but

iia^orv «Vr'"'V?'"^ ^'''^ "^^" '^'^^ "' S sat-
&-4 '' ''"" *^ '*"y » °""''^' of ^«"ou5 sited

t T

bottles in the field. Test tolbes lit the vest pocket nicely
and make excellent killing bottles for. the smaller siied
insects. The bottles are prepared by placing enough
broken crystals of cyanide of i>ofcassium in the bottom to
cover it pretty well and then pouring pla«tter of parts
mixed to the consistency of thick cream over them. Tap
the bottom gently a few times to dislodge air bubbles and
allow to set in upright position. The mouth of bottle
should be stopped by a good tight cork or stopper, enough
remaining projecting to allow of its easy removal.

An insect placed in a bottle so prepared is soon over-
powered by the fumes, and is killed in greater or less
time, depending upon the species, and the strength of the
preparation in bottle. Some of the large moths are won-
derfully resistant to the poison, and should be left in for
som« hours at least, while a few minutes are more than
sufficient for the general run of smaller creatures.

Dampness in the plaster is essential to the proper work-
ing of the bottle, and in dry climates it is sometimes
necessary to supply the deficiency with a few drops of
fresh water. Usually, however, there is if anything, too
much moisture in the bottle and, as the crystals
deliquesce with the dampness of the air, their place is
filled with a dark brown liquid that is apt to escape
through or around the plaster plug and disfigure the speci-
mens. When this is observed, a small hole should be
punched in the plaster, a*nd the liquor allowed to es-
cape. A little cotton batting, or crumpled tissue paper
should be placed in the bottle on top of the plaster to
absorb what wetness there may be, and to afford a soft
resting place for the delicate insects that may be enclosed.
This pad should be replaced from time to time with clean
material.

Too many insects, especially butterflies and moths, should
not be jumbled into a *ottie together; their first fluTter-
ings, and subsequent shaking about are sure to cause in-

f„« !• *•' «peciiii«ii8, another wad of soft «^

wZ or nth. t '"'■?^"«"'« »•" •peolniMis. Never put

i:;rsr-ro„!r errs H^S
i:l """'1 *° "" ■"" *"•" ~^ »^^.

cotton batting between layers to prevent Ih-v r ^'^^

papered this way will travel wenlndcL 1'°^' ^°^*«
Progjly_p,„„ed at later tlL:; ' °' '"^ *" '*'"^'' -"^

All handling of batterflies or moths must be done with
the greatest care as the slightest touch will rMnove the
delic«te scales tha.t colour them. The fingers are
clumsy tools for this delicate work, and the subjects
should never be touched "by them. A pair of fine spring
forceps should be used for manipulation entirely and a
little practice will enalble one to handle delicate specimens
by this means without damage.

Beetles, bugs, and other coarse insects are much easier
to handle than the above. Perhaps the best way to take
care of them in the field is to lace them in alcohol im.
mediately upon return to camp Use:—

Alcohol (commercial 95%) 10 parts.

Water 4 parts.

No preparation is necessary, just put subjects in the
fluid. Bensine or gasoline is also good for this purpose,
and when the -bottle is nearly full, if saw-du^ is added it
will prevent the shaking and consequent breaking of speci-
mens, and also render leakage less likely. Large mouthed
bottles should be used.

A very fascinating form of collecting is " sugaring." It
is done at night and many species can be taken that way
that are otherwise never seen. A mixture of molasses,
sugar, or other sweets (stale beer or rum is thought to
make the mixture more alluring) is daubed on tree
trunks, etc., along a woodland or other path, in the early
evening. After dark the route is gone over again with
a dark lantern. Casting the light ahead, the smears of
bait show black against the object on which it has
been placed, and numbers of moths and other insects will
likely be seen feeding on it. The light must then be
turned off and the collector stealthily steal up within
striking range. The light is then suddenly turned upon
the feeding insect to be captured, and advantage taken of
its momentary stunning glare to place the mouth of the
killing bottle over it. It sometimes requires a

com. mentally <l,.orm°^' h" ,1 .^'°'' '*""■ '" "«"

or almost anv «f..««„ n- *^"^'® Dottles, with molasses

covered with leaves or bark efa bl U '^f *"i 'T^'^
with o^y^asional visits, and wiU weil ^llfh '•*' tl'

I'T^riz^T -T^ " -rriii;^::„T.eaT^«

clean waLr ^" **' '"^^''^ '"'""^^^ -'*»» a Jittb

Moth traps are also productive of much «ood material
A antern or other strong light set in the woods rndpaf-
t.a ly enveloped with a large smooth funnel, paper wi 1
Jo if nothing else is at hand, leading down to a 1«r„
cyanide bottle. If the bottle is abou'^t taT? fiH^ I* tt Tr
moss, exce sior or cotton batting, the moths will w^rk
.nto Its interstices where they cannot flutter aZ^n^t
each other and damage their wings. This apparatus may
be set all night, and visited in the morning

" Beating " also prodncM many good things in the waj
of beetles and bags. A strip of white cotton cloth about
a yard square is held out open and flat by the means of
two diagonal sticks extending from corner to corner.
This is held horiiontally by the crossed sticks under the
branch of a tree or bush, especially when in bloom, which
is then beaten vigorously with a dtick in the other hand.
Numbers of insects will fall into the cloth, and can then
be picked out and bottled.

The beauty at using all these various methods of collect-
ing is that each yields its own special species and many
forms can be easily gathered by some one of these methods
that are never seen by the others. A variety of methodii
produces a variety of species, and a comprehensive col-
lection from a locality can only be gathered by following
all of them.

The great hunting ground for beetles is on the ground,
under decayed logs and stumps, in the crevices of the
rough bark of trees, or between stones and rocks. The
viciftity of carrion, though not a pleasant place, is usually
productive of many specimens and a freshly felled tree in
the woods attracts others. Sandy shores of lakes are often
well populated, not only by tiger beetles flying about in
the sun, but by a population washed up by the waves; and
boards and drift wood lying on the sand above water mark
offer shelter to many that have crawled out of the
water and sought hiding. The muddy bottoms of stag-
nant ponds well repay dredg'ing. Masses of muck can be
raked out and spread on old papers for examination. It
will usually be found thronging wiitb life, and many fine
water and other beetles and insects can be obtained in
this way.

LAND AND FRE8H WATER 8HELL8

Bryant Walker.

OOIXlCTIMa APPAIUTUfl.

JZJ*l^ '^*l"*• * "*'*""" ^^ » ^ery useful. This
w madejby getting a small, light handled garden hoe and
k!"""!!. *l»» 'Wade cut down at a machine shop. It should
n!i„*f ^K *"*•»**":'<»* on top and topw to a aharp
pomt. Then cut off the handle so that it will be as long
as a cane. This makes a most convenient tool for turninir
ov«.r logs and breaking up rotten wood and digging around
Htumpa and among the dead leaves. A pair of fine curved
pointed collecting forceps is also necessary for picking up
the small species. Small glass bottles should be carried
ajs the small species are apt to get lost in the dirt and
slime ,f put mto the same receptacle as the larger ones.
It IS better not to put the email species in alcohol as they
are collected, as they are then killed at once with the
animal more or less extended. If put in a dry bottle and
eft a few hours they wall withdraw into their shells, leav
mg the aperture clear and «t for examination. This is
especially necessary with the Pupidae. where the arrange-
ment of the apertural teeth is a specific characteristic.

Uor the larger species tin cases of a convenient sise to
slip readily into the coat pockets are most convenient.
Several boxes and a number of vials should always be
carried, so that specimens from different localities may
be kept separate.

For the fluviatile species it is necessary to have a dipper.
This If ni^ide from an ordinary tin dipper, by removing the
bottom and substituting «aie of fine wire cloth. By re-
moving the end of the handle.' the dip,»er can
be slipped on the end of a cane or pole when in use
This IS U8rful not only for reaching the larger specimens
from the shore or boat, but especially for sifting the mud

and sand from the bottom, whi»r* a multitnde of small
species liTe. which otherwise would not be found. It will
be found more conrenient to empfty the contents of the
dipper, when thorou«hl7 washed out, into a pail and carry
the whole mass home ^before undertaking to pick out the
shells. If attempted in the Held, many of the smaller
and more desirable things are overlooked. By spreading
the mass out in the sun for a short time, it will become
dry and friable, so that the Hheils can be easily separated
and picked out. An ordinary reading glass is rery use-
ful for the detection of the more minute forms in sort-
ing over much material.

WHIM TO COIXaCT.

Everywhere. The land species love dampness and dark-
ness. They are to be looked for under logs, bark, and
leaves in 8Uita«)ie localiUes. Many species bury them-
selves in rotten logs, and these should be broken up with
the hoe. The accumulation of dead leaves around fallen
trees is a favourite habitat and should also be carnfully
and slowly gone over with finger and hoe. The thick grass
and dense thickets along the margin of ditches and
streams will usuftlly reward a careful examination.
Southern and western exposures, being dryer, are not so
fruitful as eastern and northern hillsides and shady
ravines. Coniferous forests are usually quite barren of
moUu^an life. An open hardwood forest in a limestone
region is the ideal hunting ground. Nearly every per-
manent body of water has its molliuscs, varying according
to its character. Some species are found only in rapid
flowing water, and others only in ponds and still water.
Ditches and other stagnant waters are usually good col-
lecting ground for Fxtidta and other small species. The
low places in the woods, which dry up in the summer,
have a number of species that are not found else-
where, and which bury themselves in the mud when the
water disappears. Sand banks in rivers and lakes are

the faroarite rMort of many of the smaller specie*. The
under side of the lily pads should be ecratiniied. while
the Ancyli should be looked for on stones and dead clam
shells.

cuANiNfl AND rsvABATioN OT anKitiniri.

The largest Helices should not be put into alcohol un-
less desired for an«tomical purposes, «s it is almost iro-
poswble to remove the animal after it h«s become hard,
ened. They should be boiled as soon as possible. The
water should be boiling, not simply hot. Species of about
the same site should be boiled together in order that the
operation nvay be succeasTul. A small wire dr«iner with
a long handle is very convenient for holding the sn«ils
while boiling. If dropped directly into the water, there
18 apt to be trouble in fishing them out and they are likely
to .be boiled too much. The time varies according to the
siae and the species, some requiring more time than
others. If not boiled enough, the muscular attachment
to the shell will not be loosened, and the anim«l will not
" pull " at all. If boiled too long, it is apt to break in
two and give a good deal of trouble before extraction.
Ihe time required varies from ten seconds for a species
of the sixe of Polygyra monodon to sixty seconds for P
albolabri,. It is well to experiment a little at first with"
a specimen or two of each kind until the proper time n
found. Only a few should be boiled at a time, as they
pull more easily while warm. When boiled, the ani-
mal should be slowly and carefully pulled out. Too much
haste 18 apt to cause the animal to break apart, leaving
the apical whorls still in the shell. The curved points of
the collect.ng forceps are convenient for extracting the
animals and hooks of various sixes can .be made from
safety pins. By tying these on to small wooden handles
very effective instruments can ibe made. A small, fint»-
pointed dental syringe is indispensable for this work. If
the animal cannot be started with the hook, or if it breaks

in two. » )«t of wat»r from th« njrringe will usiuilly lolre
th# difficulty. In om« rery dMirable iip«oiineiM get into
thi« predicament, patting them in akaHoI for twenty-four
houni will contract the remnant of the animal sufficiently
to enable the ffuccewfal uae of the syringe. Many of the
•peciee have the aperture eo obetructed with t«eth, that
it is difficult to extract the animal with the hook. In
such case, a rigorous use of the ayringe will force enough
of the body out of the ahell to enable the hook to be used.
When the animal is completely extracted, the interior
should fie thoroughly washed out with the syringe. A
small piece of sponge on the end of a fine copper wire,
which can be bent in any direction, is very useful for re-
moving the mucous, which is apt to adhere to the interior
of the shell. This should always be carefully attended to.
as it will greatly disfigure the specimen when dried. The
exterior should then be thoroughly scralibed with a soft
tooth or nail-bruah. No oil or acid should be used on
any of the land shells. It is not desirable to attempt to
clean the small species by removing the animals. By
keeping them for a short time in a dry place, the animal
will retire far within the shell. Then they should be put
into 25 iier cent alcohol for a day or two. If to be left
longer in the alcohol, tlie strength should be increased.
Twenty-four hours, however, in the alcohol is all that is
n«H;es»ary. Then they op be dri«l in the air without leav-
ing any offensive odour. ither before or after drying they
tan be cleaned by pi n^ them in a bottle with some
fine, clean sand and . aking theto together until all the
dirt has been removed by the sand.

With the exception of the larger species of tlanorbis.
which are more easily cleaned by boiling, it is practically
immaterial whether the fluviatile univalves are boiled or
put directly into diluted alcohol. In either case there is
no difficulty in extracting the animals. The minute
species are treated the same as the small land shells. In
the operculate species, it is desirable to retain the oper-

cnU of. at l»Mt. part of the iit>Miiiienii. Th#M ar« eauilj
r»moTMl from tho animal and. after b»inf dcaned. should
be pat inside the ahell and the aperture plugged with cot-
ton. All the foreign matter both inside and outside of
the ehell ahoald be remored bjr thorough washing. All
the water specie* are Apt to be more or lew encru«ted
with deposits of lime or oxide of iron. These can -be re-
moved by immer»in« them in oxalic acid. Care shonld
be taken not to prolong thr operation, or the texture of
the shell may ibe injured. The AncyH are alwayit more
or lees coated in this way, and can easily Jbe cleaned by
floating them for a few seconds on the acid, upside down,
and then gently brushing them off with a soft brunh while
held on the tip of the finger.

The larger bivalves should be well washed and. if neces-
»ary. Hcraped off with the knife as soon as taken, care
being taken not to in^jure the epidermis.

They can be boiled, if desired, when the shells will open
and the animals ea«ily removed. But as a rule, it is
more convenient to cut the muscles, which hold (the valves
together, with a thin bladed knife and scrape the animal
out. Care should be taken not to hreak the edge of the
fragile BpK-ies when inserting the knife. All traces of
animal matter should be removed, and after a thorough
washing the valves tied together with a string until thor-
oughly dried. Never use coloured twine for this purpose,
a« it is apt to stain the shells. Any surface encrustation
can be removed either with oxalic or muriatic acid. The
latter is more convenient for the larger species, and can
be applied with a small brush. It does not bite the
fingers, so that it can be used freely. Care, however, must
be exercised in using it and the specimens frequen-tly
■washed, lest damage be done to the shell. The smaller
bivalves, the Uphaeria and Fitidia, are beet treated by
putting into diluted alcohol for a day or two and then
drying them. If left too long the shells are apt to open,
which interferes wUh the looks of the specimens.

VI,

Th» Urg»r apMlM ol Spkmerium •■>• b«<tor witK »h« Mi-
mal r»mo?«Kl. ThUi can b* dea* afti^r boiling for a law
dajra in alooliol. Aa thM* ara naaallj tao ■mall ta ba
taaiijr tied toffath«r 'to k»ap tha valvM from gaping, aach
fc|imim«n, whila tii* bing* • iaatbla, tbould b« cloMly
wrapped ap in a amall f\x ! tiaaue papar vntil con-
phtalj dry.

Both in collMAing and ilmaiag, th« ipMinana from

aach locality ahoald ^ kapt car«fully «aparati>d and

labi>llMl. Too ninoh importanca i»nnot ba given to thiii

^ -* The study (rf geograpMcal diatribution of tha mol-

^ *4 on» of the moat i«|»ortant branchea of ooncholo-

iral work, and thifl, to be of any value, muat ba based
on absolutely accurate work on the part of the collector.
PACKiNS sraniiaNa.

Small specimens should not be mixed with large ones,
as they ara apt to get lost; nor ^ fragile shplltt be

put in with atronger ones, as they are likely to be broken.
Tha minute apecimens can be put into gelatine capsules,
^mall rials, quills, or paper tiAes, made by rolling writ-
ing paper around a lead penoil. gumming down the edges
and stopping the ends with cotton. Don 'it mix shells from
diilarent localities. WriAe the locality on a label and wrap
it up with each vial or package. Use plenty nf cotton
in packing fragile shells. Pill boxe« and match bu.ra are
convenient for packing purposes. Wrap up each vjal or
box separately, then if a smash does occur 'there is a
fair chance of saving some of the specimens and no
danger of mixing the contents of diflerent packageti.
Don't send paper (boxes by mail. It is simply tempting
Providence. Pack in a wooden box.

Packages up to four pounds in wesght may be mailed
free, it addressed:—

O.H.M.S.
To Tha Oiractor
Qaoiogical Survay
Natural Histary Divisien. Ottawa.