108 



SPORTSMAN S HAND BOOK. 



After the skin has been turned right side out and the 

 feathers of the head, neck and wings are nicely adjusted, 

 the wing-hones of opposite sides should be tied with thread 

 inside the skin as near together as the back of the natural 

 body of the bird is broad. 



Fill the neck with a strip of loose cotton, pushing it up 

 into the mouth with a slender stick or spring forceps. Fill 

 the rest of the skin with the same material, but if the bird 

 is a large one common tow is always best for a filling. Now, 

 smooth the feathers over the opening and place a narrow 

 band of paper around the bird or place the bird in a dry- 

 ing-board like the accompanying cut which is made by 



DRYING- BOARD. 



tacking heavy paper on a board. There are several methods 

 of sewing the wings to the skin which are unnecessary to give 

 here, as the skins made by the sportsman will probably be 

 mounted before they are many weeks old, and if the skin is 



