be found quite a simple matter with some _ birds, 
while with others a good deal of coaxing will be 
necessary. If the skull sticks, push it forward with 
the thumb, and at the same time gradually work 
the skin back with the fingers of both hands. Above 
all things don’t tug with the skin in one hand and 
the string in the other, as this procedure often causes 
the head to leave its ‘‘ moorings.’’ When the skull 
has been returned the head feathers will be very 
ruffled, but a little manipulation will soon put them 
in order. A knitting needle inserted through the 
eye, and passed along the skin, helps the pe 
to resume its natural state. 
Now turn to the wings. Seize the bone (i.e., the 
splintered humerus) in one hand, and with the 
other hand, skin down to the carpal joint. All will 
go well until the first joint is reached, and then some 
difficulty will be found in detaching the larger 
feathers from the ulna. In the case of most birds 
this is overcome by applying gradual pressure with 
the thumb nail to the roots of the feathers. (With 
large birds the wing is best opened on the under- 
side, cleaned, preserved and_ stuffed, and then 
neatly sewn up again). Having reached the carpal 
joint, cut off the humerus, and strip the ulna and 
radius. To the loop thus formed by the bones tie a 
piece of string or thread, according to the size of the 
subject, anoint the skin and bones with a preserva- 
tive, and wrap the bones with just sufficient tow to 
replace the flesh. (In the case of small birds it is 
not necessary to insert stuffing in the wing). The 
26 
