STUFFING AND WIRING. 85 



which the neck, when naturally curved, sinks. Everything 

 depends upon correct shaping of the artificial body ; if it be 

 misshapen, no art can properly adjust the skin over it. Firm- 

 ness of the tow ball and accurate contour may both be secured 

 by wrapping the mass with sewing thread, loosening here, 

 tightening there, till the shape is satisfactory. Be particular 

 to secure a smooth superficies ; the skin in drying will shrink 

 close to the stuffing, disclosing its irregularities, if there be 

 any, by the maladjustment of the plumage that will ensue. 

 Observe especially that the neck, though the direct continua- 

 tion of the backbone, dips at its lower end into the hollow 

 of the merrythought, and so virtually begins there instead of 

 directly between the shoulders. The three mistakes most 

 likely to be made by a beginner are, getting the body 

 altogether too large, not firm enough, and irregular. When 

 properly made it will closely resemble the bird's body and 

 neck, with an inch or several inches of sharp-pointed wire pro- 

 truding from the anterior extremity of the neck of tow. You 

 have now to introduce the whole affair into the skin. With the 

 birdskin on its back, the tail pointing to your right elbow, and 

 the abdominal opening as wide as possible, hold the body 

 in position relative to the skin ; enter the wire, pass it up 

 through the neck, bring the sharp point exactly against the 

 middle of the skull, pierce skull and skin, causing the wire to 

 protrude some distance from the middle of the crown. Then 

 by gentle means insinuate the body, partly pushing it in, 

 partly drawing the skin over it, till it rests in its proper 

 position. This is just like drawing on a tight kid glove, and 

 no more difficult. See that the body is completely encased ; 

 you must be able to close the abdominal aperture entirely. 

 You have next to wire the legs. Enter the sharp point of 

 one of the leg wires already prepared, exactly at the centre 

 of the sole of the foot, thrusting it up inside the tarsal en- 

 velope the whole length of the " shank," thence across the 

 heel-joint * and up along the next bone of the leg, still inside 



* There is occasionally difficulty in getting the wire across this joint, from the 

 point sticking into the enlarged end of the shin-bone. In such case, take stout 



