tow to its full roundness before sewing up, as you cannot introduce the cotton as directed for small birds; the throat is filled out as in others. With all large birds, in removing a piece of the skull for extracting the brain, and the flesh adhering, it necessarily destroys the symmetry of the head, to remedy which, introduce some cotton through the eye between the skin and skull, sufficient to restore its natural feathers. VARNISH THE LEGS. It is a good plan to give the legs a light coat of varnish, as it prevents their scaling, and protects them from insects. TO PREPARE DRIED SKINS FOR MOUNTING. Take a box large enough to receive the skins, and fill half full with clean fine sand thoroughly moistened but not wet; lay in your skins, and spread over a damp cloth, set away for twenty-four hours, when they will be soft enough to remove the filling; then fill every portion with cotton well saturated with water; if a long legged bird, also wrap the legs with wet cotton; set away for twenty-four hours, when, change the wet filling, dampen the covering cloth and set away again; on the third day they will ordinarily be ready for use; though quite small birds will take a little less and large a little more time. When ready to mount, remove the filling, and fill with cotton wet in hot water, and let it remain an hour before mounting. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. CATALOGUE. By R. H. HOLDER, of Bloomington, Illinois. In the department of Ornithology, I have to report the collection of over two hundred specimens, comprising one hundred and fifty-two species, which are mounted, named, and ready to deposit in the museum of the Society. Nearly all the families in Ornithology found in this State, are represented, and one or two are nearly complete in genera and species. It is hoped that with the assistance of A. M. Gow, of Dixon, and Dr. Velie, of Rock Island, now associated with this commission, and by a system of exchanges begun this summer, that this department may keep pace with others of the Society. With this report I offer a list of the Birds of Illinois, as complete as present information can make it, and arranged according to the classification adopted by Prof. Baird, in the ninth volume of Pacific railroad reports, only differing by grouping the genera into families, instead of the minute subdivisions given in that work. I must also acknowledge my indebtedness to the catalogues of Messrs. R. Kennicott and Henry Pratten, who left but few to add to the enumeration of species, making my labor one of classification, rather than collection. With the few species not enumerated in former lists, and added in this, the whole number of species found in this State is two hundred and forty-eight; but I have no doubt that a thorough exploration will greatly increase the number; I would recommend that catalogues of birds, from every section of the State, be requested of such persons as may be willing to devote so much time to the furtherance of Natural History. Southern Illinois and our large rivers afford peculiar facilities, and specimens and lists of birds from those sections will prove most acceptable. Nothing, so far, has been done towards collecting eggs and nests. Would it not be advisable to make and fill a commission on Oology. Falco Columbarius. Pigeon Hawk. Red-shouldered Hawk. Coccygus Americanus. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. FAMILY PICIDE. Campephilus Principalis. Ivory-billed Woodpecker. ORDER INSESSORES. FAMILY TROCHILIDE. Trochilus Colubris. Ruby-throated Humming-bird. Ceryle Alcyon. Belted Kingfisher. FAMILY TYRANNINÆ. Tyrannus Carolinensis. King-bird. Myiarchus Crinitus. Great Crested Flycatcher, Contopus Virens. Wood Pewee. Empidonax Acadicus. Crested Flycatcher, Anthus Ludovicianus. Tit Lark. Mniotilta Varia. Black and White Creeper. Parula Americana. Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. Protonotaria Citrea. Prothonotary Warbler. |