Natural History 361 



Do the same for the other leg. Get the tail into its 

 right place; drive a sharpened 3-inch wire through the 

 pope's nose or tail bone into the body to hold it there; 

 work the skin together till the opening can be closed with 

 a few stitches; and now we are ready for the stand. The 

 simplest is the best for the present purpose. A piece 

 of a board slightly hollowed on the under side is got ready 

 in a few minutes. With an awl bore two holes through 

 this about one inch apart and run a foot-wire through each. 

 CHnch them on the under side, fastening them firmly 

 with tacks or small staples. Now we are ready to give 

 the robin its natural pose. This is done by bending 

 the wires in the neck and legs. A wire or a large pin will 

 have to be driven into each wing to hold it to the side, 

 at least while drying (X, Fig. 11); and another in the 

 middle of the back (B P, Fig. 11). 



The prinking of the specimen is now done chiefly with 

 needles reaching through the feathers to the sldn. Pins 

 may be driven into the body anyw'here to hold the skin 

 or feathers in place; and cotton thread may be lashed 

 around the body or the wings and around the projecting 

 wire till everything is held in the position that is wished. 

 Then the bird is set away to dry. 



In a week the specimen should be ready for the finishing 

 touch — the putting in of the eyes. A plug of damp 

 cotton is fastened on each eye-place the night before. 

 In the morning the eyelids are once more soft. The 

 eyes are put through the opening in the sockets, the 

 lids neatly set around them. Some prefer to set them in 

 a bed of putty or plaster of paris. Cut off the projecting 

 wires flush, so that the feathers hide what is left, remove 

 the thread lashings and the mounting of the robin is 

 finished. 



The process is much the same for all birds, but the larger 



k 



