STUFFING 379 



condition used by pottery workers. In the center of the clay, 

 on each side, place the head of a mourning pin, or a glass eye. 

 It is well to place a little clay in the top of the skull also, as 

 the neck wire will be much more firmly held in place by this 

 addition. 



12. The skin is now to be turned right side out, and the 

 first step — that of getting the skin of the head properly and 

 smoothly over the skull — is difficult for a beginner. Place 

 the thumb of the left hand just where the skull is cut off, and 

 with the tip of the fingers gradually and slowly work the skin 

 upward and backward over the most bulging portions. As 

 soon as you can reach the bill from within the skin take hold 

 of it, and almost immediately the whole skin will be reversed. 



13. Take hold of the ends of legs and wings and pull them 

 into place. Shake the whole skin while holding by the bill. 

 Lift up the skin from the skull and thus give it a chance to 

 take its exact old position. The proper adjustment of all 

 feathers depends entirely upon the proper adjustment of the 

 skin. The feathers will come right if you get the skin right. 

 The first arrangement of the eyelids around the glass eyes 

 should now be attended to. The tweezers will be found useful 

 for this purpose. 



Stuffing. — 14. The wires needed should first be cut and 

 both ends of each sharpened with the file. A bird should 

 be successfully mounted with the wings closed before any 

 attempt is made to mount one with the wings spread. For 

 the closed Aving form, three wires 7 inches long and one 4 

 inches long are needed. For a spread wing, two additional 

 wing wires about 5 inches long will be necessary. 



15. A body is next to be made of tow. It should be in size 

 and shape as nearly as possible like the one taken from the 

 bird. Take a mass of tow in your hand ; two or three trials 

 will show how much is needed. Wind this with thread in 

 all possible directions, and at the same time press it into 

 form by the thumb and fingers of your left hand. Compare 

 constantly with the bird's body. If any portion proves too 



