HO WTO WIRE. 9 



the whole way within the skin of the leg, when you 

 get to the part where you have cut off the bone, that 

 is, the knee-joint, pass it through the skin to the out- 

 side, and in again through the skin from the outside 

 where the knee would come naturally in the attitude 

 of standing or perching it makes little difference 

 which. This is essential, because if the wire be passed 

 the whole way inside the skin, it produces a wrong 

 placing of the legs. The accompanying cut will illus- 



trate this, a representing the line in which the wire 

 should run. The bird is now stuffed, and you may at 

 once place it upon a spray, or board, as the case may 

 be. In placing a bird upon a spray, the first joint 

 should be bent almost on a level with the foot ; and, 

 in placing a bird on a board, one leg should be placed 

 somewhat behind the other. If the wings are intended 

 to be closed, as is usually the case, bring them into 

 their place, which may be done by putting the fingers 

 under them, and pressing them together over the back ; 

 you may then pass a needle, or large pin, of which you 

 should have a good supply by you, through the thick 

 part of the upper wing into the body, and so by the 

 lower wing, and if you allow these to protrude, you 

 may fasten to one of them a piece of thread, and wind 



