Progress in Descriptive Ornithology, Systematics and Nomenclature. Linnæus. Brisson

Abstract

Right down to the close of the 18th century native and foreign birds were in many instances described and named from unpublished pictures, for it was not until this period that collections, formed mostly of preserved specimens, from which the descriptions could be made, became general. This was rendered possible by the progress of taxidermy. The various methods of preservation previously used, such as ‚drying‘ by heat, preservation in alcohol, or even dipping in varnish, which were not very practical, were then abandoned.