86 HOW TO MAKE A BIRDSKIN. 



the skin. The point of the wire will then be seen within the 

 skin and may be seized and drawn a little further through, 

 and you will have passed a wire entirely out of sight all the 

 way along the leg. The end of the ware is next to be fixed 

 immovably in the tow ball. Thrust it in at the point where 

 the knee, in life, rests against the side of the body.* Bring 

 the point to view, bend it over and reinsert it till it sticks 

 fast. There are no special directions to be given here ; fasten 

 the wire in any way that effectually prevents " wabbling," 

 You may find it convenient to wire both legs before fasten- 

 ing either, and then clinch them by twisting the two ends 

 together. But remember that the leg wires may be fixed re- 

 specting each other, yet permit a sec-saw motion of the body 

 upon them. This must not be, the bod}'^ and legs must be 

 fixed upon a jointless frame. Having secured the legs, close 

 the abdominal opening nicely, either by sewing or pinning, you 

 may stick pins in anywhere, as freely as in a pin cushion ; the 

 feathers hide their heads. Stick a pin through the pope's 

 nose, to fix the tail in place. 



All this while the bird has been lying on its back, the neck 

 stretched straight in continuation of the body, wired stiffly, 

 the legs straddling wide apart, straight and stiff, the wings 

 lying loosely, half-spread. Now bring the legs together, paral- 

 lel with each other, and make the sharp bend at the heel joint 

 that will bring the feet naturally under the belly (over it as 

 the bird lies on its back). Pick up the bird by the wires that 

 project from the soles and set it on its stand, by running the 

 wires through holes bored the proper distance apart, and then 

 securing the ends by twisting. The temporary stand that 3'ou 

 use for this purpose should have a heavy or otherwise firm sup- 

 port, so as not easily to overturn during the subsequent manip- 

 ulations. At this stage the bird is a sorry looking object ; but 



pliers and pinch tlie joint till the bone is smashed to fragments. The wire will 

 then pass and the comminution will not show. If there is any trouble in passing 

 the wire through the tarsus, bore a hole for it with a brad awl. 



*This point is further forward and more belly-ward than you might suppose. 

 Observe the skinned body again, and see where tlie lower end of the thigh lies. If 

 you insert the wire too far hacic, you cannot by any possibility balance the bird 

 naturally on its perch; it will look in imminent danger of toppling over. 



