ZOOLOGY. 129 



thers of the wounded part cut away ; having procured a long 

 needle, with stout silk, it should be introduced just within 

 the skin, and passing round the bone, should be again passed 

 through the skin, but on the opposite side, the silk should be 

 tied in a hard knot ; the wing being laid on a block 

 of wood, and a sharp knife placed about a quarter of an inch 

 below the ligature, with a smart blow of a hammer the 

 limb will be removed ; by this mode no hemorrhage will 

 ensue ; should the wound be in the lower joint of the wing, 

 the same plan should be adopted, excepting that the needle 

 in the first instance should be introduced immediately within 

 the lesser bone : as soon as the operation is performed, the 

 bird may be set at liberty, and a few days will generally 

 effect a cure. 



Considerable difficulty attends the preservation of soft- 

 billed birds, their food being insects ; in lieu of which many 

 of the lesser kinds will eat flesh parboiled, (having all fat 

 removed,) cut very small, and mixed with crumbs of bread; 

 which should be given them with a quill, and that often, but 

 not in large quantities at one time ; as soon as caught, the 

 three or four principal quill feathers in each wing, should 

 have their tips tied together with strong thread, which will 

 effectually prevent their fluttering ; and for a few days, it 

 will be better to confine them in boxes, the sides of which 

 are covered with carpeting or other soft substance, to pre- 

 vent their sustaining injury ; the boxes should be kept in a 

 dark room, till the birds evince an inclination to feed them- 

 selves, when they may gradually be removed into the light, 

 and caged. Soft billed aquatic birds, or waders, should 

 have their wings tied, and be kept in the dark, these will 



