50 FIELD ORNITHOLOGY part i 



stretched ; have the crown of the head flat on the table, the bill 

 pointing straight forward/ the mandibles shut tightly.- Never 

 attempt any fancy attitudes with a birdskin ; the simpler and 

 more compactly it is made up the better.^ Finally, I say, hang 

 over your bird (if you have time) ; dress better the feathers that 

 were well dressed before ; perfect every curve ; finish caressingly, 

 and put it away tenderly, as you hope to be shriven yourself when 

 the time comes. 



There are several Avays of laying a birdskin. A common, easy, 

 and slovenly way is to thrust it head first into a paper cone ; but 

 it makes a hollow-chested, pot-bellied object, unpleasant to see, and 

 renders your nice work on the make-up futile. A paper cylinder, 

 corresponding in calibre to the greatest girth of the birdskin, binds 

 the wings well, and makes a good specimen. Eemarking that there 

 are some detestable practices, such as hanging up a bird by a string 

 through the nose (methods only to be mentioned to be condemned), 

 I will tell you the easiest and best way by Avhich the most elegant 

 and tasteful results are secured. The skins are simply laid away in 

 cotton, just as they come from your hands. Take a considerable 

 wad of cotton, make a bed of it, lay the specimen in, and tuck 

 it up nicely around the edges. I generally take a thin sheet of 

 cotton wadding, the sizing of which confers some textile consist- 

 ency, and wrap the bird completely but lightly in it. By loosening 

 or tightening a trifle here or there, laying down a pillow or other 

 special slight pressure, the most delicate contour-lines may be 

 preserved with fidelity. Unnecessary pother is sometimes made 

 about drying skins ; the fact being that under ordinary circumstances 

 they could not be kept from drying perfectly ; and they dry in 



1 Exceptions. Woodpeckers, clucks, aud some other birds treated of beyond, are 

 best set with the head flat on one side, the bill pointing obliquely to the right or 

 left ; owls, with the bill pointing straight \ip in the air as the bird lies on its back. 



- If the mandibles gape, run a thread through the nostrils and tie it tightly under 

 the bill. Or, since this injures the nostrils (and we frequently want to examine their 

 structure), stick a pin in under the bill close to the gonys, driving it obliquely into 

 the j)alate. Sometimes the skin of the throat looks sunken betwixt the sides of the 

 jaw. A shred of cotton introduced with forceps through the mouth will obviate 

 this. 



■^ Don't cock up the head, trying to impart a knowing air — it cannot be done, and 

 only makes the poor bird look ridiculous. Don't lay the skin on one side, with the 

 legs in perching jjosition, and don't spread the wings — tlie bird will never perch nor 

 fly again, and the suggestion is not in keeping. The only permissible departure from 

 the rule of severe simplicity is when some special ornament, as a fine crest, may be 

 naturally displayed, or some hidden markings be brought out, or a shape of tail or 

 wing to be perpetuated; but in all such cases the "spread-eagle" style should be 

 sparingly indulged. It is, however, frequently desirable to give some special set to 

 hide a defect, as loss of plumage, etc. ; this may often be accomplished very cun- 

 ningly, with excellent result. No rules for this can be laid down, since the details 

 vary in every case ; but in general the weak spot may be hidden iiy contracting the 

 skin of the place, and then setting the bird in an attitude that naturally corresponds, 

 thus making a virtue of necessity. 



