. The naturalist's guide in collecting and preserving objects of natural history : with a complete catalogue of the birds of eastern Massachusetts . p of the upper mandible to the gape(e) for the length from gape; also from the tip ofthe lower mandible to the angle of the gonys (s) for thelength of gonys (c). In the Hawks, measure to thecere. The color of the eyes, feet, and bill is now observedand recorded, also the date of collection and the locality inwhich the bird was collected. If the bird is in worn plu-mage, the fact should be recorded, as this will affect themeasurements; also if it i
. The naturalist's guide in collecting and preserving objects of natural history : with a complete catalogue of the birds of eastern Massachusetts . p of the upper mandible to the gape(e) for the length from gape; also from the tip ofthe lower mandible to the angle of the gonys (s) for thelength of gonys (c). In the Hawks, measure to thecere. The color of the eyes, feet, and bill is now observedand recorded, also the date of collection and the locality inwhich the bird was collected. If the bird is in worn plu-mage, the fact should be recorded, as this will affect themeasurements; also if it is moulting or in perfect plu-mage. As the records now made are only temporary, signs may be used to save time, such as X would denote an adult bird in perfect plumage, Y| would denote a young bird in worn plumage, YY| 1 w^ould denote a young bird not a year old and moulting,—this stage in thelife of the bird is called the young-of-the-year. Byusing some such signs as these much time will be the collector becomes expert at measuring, he willfind that all small birds can be measured and recorded in THE ART OF PRESERVING BIRDS. 21 2. 22 THE NATURALISTS GUIDE. about three minutes, and the larger ones in a little longertime. Skinning.—First, have plenty of plaster near at the cotton from the mouth and vent, and placea fresh plug in the mouth alone. The method now aboutto be described is one that will apply to all birds, exceptingthose to be hereafter named. Place the bird upon its back; with the forefinger andthumb part the feathers on the abdomen, and a bare longi-tudinal space will be discovered, extending from the breastto the vent. With the scalpel divide the skin in thecentre of this bare space, commencing at the lower part ofthe breast-bone, or sternum (Plate X. o), and ending at thevent. Now peel the skin off to the right and left, andsprinkle plaster upon the exposed abdomen. Force theleg on the right side up under the skin, at the same timedrawing
Size: 1204px × 2076px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthordwightjonathan18581, bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds
