HOW TO MAKE A BIEDSKIN. 66 



cabinet. Supposing you to have been so far successful, little remains to be done ; the akin 

 already looks very much like a dead bird ; you have only to give the finishiug touches, and 

 "set" it. Fixing the wings nicely is a great point. Fold each wAwg closely; see that the 

 caii)al bend is well defined, that the coverts show their several oblique rows perfectly, that all 

 the quiUs ovemde each other like shingles. Tuck the ftjlded wings close up to the body — 

 rather on the bii'd's back than along its sides ; see that the wing tips meet over the tail (under 

 the tail as the bird lies on its back) ; let the carpal angle nestle in the plumage ; have the 

 shoulders close together, so that the interscapulars shingle over the scapulars. If the wing be 

 pressed in too tightly, the scapulars will rise up on end ; there must be neither furrow nor 

 ridge about the insertion of the wings; everything must lie perfectly smooth. At this stage 

 of the process, I generally lift up the skin gingerly, and let it slip head first through one hand 

 after the other, pressing liere or there to correct a deformity, or uniformly to make the whole 

 skin compact. The wings set, next bring the legs together, so that the bones within the 

 skin lie parallel with each other ; bend the heel -joint a little, to let the tarsi cross each other 

 about their middle; lay them sid(;wise on the tail, so that the naturally flexed toes lie flat, all 

 the claws mutually facing each other. See that the neck is perfectly straight, and, if anything, 

 shortened rather than outstretched ; have the crown of the head flat on the table, the bill point- 

 ing 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 ways 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 ci/linder, 

 corresponding in calibre to the greatest girth of the birdskin, binds the wings well, and makes 

 a good ordinary specimen, — perhaps better than the average. Remarking 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 which the most 

 elegant and tasteful results are almost necessarily secured. The skins are simply laid away 

 in cotton, just as they come fi-om 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. In efiect, I gener- 

 ally take a thin sheet of cotton wadding, the sizing of which confere some textile consistency, 

 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 perfect fidelity. Unnecessary pother is sometimes made about drying 



1 Exceptions. Woodpeckers, ducks, and 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 up in the air as 

 the bird lies on its back. 



2 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 palate. 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. 



3 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 position, and don't spread the wings — 

 the bird will never perch nor fly .ngain, and the suggestion is unartistic because incongruous. The only permis- 

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

 displayed, or some hidden markings are desired to be brought out, or a shape of tail or wing to be perpetuated ; 

 but in all such cases the "flowery" inclination should be sparingly and judiciously indulged. It is, however, 

 frequently desirable to give some special set to hide a defect, an loss of plumage, etc. ; this may often be accom- 

 plished very cunningly, 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 by contracting the skin of the place, and then setting the bird 

 in au attitude that naturally corresponds, thus making a virtue of necessity. 



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