8 BIRD-PRESERVING. 



tight. Then take the skin, lay it on the table on its 

 back, and pass the wire at the head into the marrow 



where the neck is cut off, through above the roof of 

 the mouth, and out at one nostril, and draw it up close 

 to the skull ; turn the skin back, and draw it down 

 over the hemp body, and pass the wire spike pro- 

 truding at the lower end through the flesh upon which 

 the tail grows, about the centre, and rather below 

 than above. The skin may now be adjusted to the 

 hemp body, and sewn up, beginning from the top of the 

 breast, and being particularly careful always to take 

 the stitch from inside, otherwise you will draw in the 

 feathers at every pull. At first sew it very loose, 

 and then, with the button-hook, draw it together by 

 degrees. 



With the plyers cut two lengths of wire long enough 

 to pass up the legs and into the neck, and leave some- 

 thing over to fasten the bird by to the board or spray 

 upon which it is to be placed. The next operation 

 requires some address and great practice, namely, the 

 passing the wire up the legs. This is done by forcing 

 it into the centre of the foot, and up the back of the 

 legs into the hemp body, through it obliquely, and 

 into the neck until it is pretty firm. In doing this, 

 you must remember the ordinary position of a bird 

 when alive, and, therefore, instead of passing the wire 



