.Together,they analyzed various collectors'methods of preparing the birds for preservation, establishing a profile rather like music experts identifying the stylistic characteristics of important instrument makers.By comparing Meinertzhagen's specimens that failed to fit his profile with gaps in other museums'bird collections,they proved that many of the best birds had indeed been stolen from other co11ections.For example,one rare snow finch,supposedly collected in1952 in India by Meinertzhagen, had in fact been collected by another ornithologist in Mongolia in1877.
Rasmussen's research ultimately resulted in Meinertzhagen'sl4
South Asian species being discredited.Interestingly,however, Rasmussen's faith in study skins was reaffirmed“If the fraud had