STUFFING 



383 



positions it takes, and the frequency with which its feathers 

 are ruffled. 



23. The bird, whether wound witli thread or not, should be 

 left for several days to 

 dry in some place free 

 from dust. The thread 

 should then be re- 

 moved, the extra pins 

 pulled out, and the 

 head wire and the pins 

 holding the wings in 

 place cut oif as close 

 to the skin as possible 

 so that the feathers will hide them from view. The bird is 

 now finished, and should appear as in the seventh figure.' 



After preparing two or three good specimens in this posi- 

 tion, you will be ready to undertake the mounting of a spread 

 wing. In this case, the two wires, five inches long, are to be 



passed along the bones 

 of the different joints 

 of the wings. This is 

 to a beginner a diffi- 

 cult process ; there 

 seem to be too little 

 flesh and too many 

 bones and joints. The 

 only cautions that can 

 be given are that the 

 wires must be kept 

 straight, the wing so 

 pulled out as to 

 straighten the joints, 

 and the finger and 

 thumb of the left hand must keep the point of the wire within 

 the skin. This wiring of the wings is to be done at the same 

 time as the wiring of the legs (stage 16). Insert the wing 



