31 ON STUFFING BIRDS. 



dimensions. The skin is brought together, and sewed up, 

 while we take the greatest care to separate the feathers at 

 every stitch. 



The orbits of the eyes are next finished, by inserting, with 

 small forceps (plate VI. fig. 7 ) and a short stuffing stick, a 

 small quantity of chopped cotton, while attention is paid to 

 round the eyelids properly. The glass eyes are now inserted, 

 taking care to place them properly under the eyelids. But, 

 before fixing the eye, a little calcareous cement must be used, 

 to prevent them from coming out. If any part of the nictitating 

 membrane is visible below, it must be pushed up with the steel 

 point. (See plate VI. fig. 9. and 10.) 



The stuffing of the bird being now completed, the next tiling 

 is to place it either on a branch, or if a bird which does not 

 sit on trees, on a piece of plank ; whichever of these it is, 

 two holes are bored for the reception of the wires, which have 

 been allowed to protrude from the soles of the feet, for fixing 

 the bird. (See plate III., fig. 3.) These, of course, are 

 pierced in such situations as are necessary for the attitude or 

 position of the legs. The wires are put through these holes, 

 and twisted so as to secure the bird in its position. The atti- 

 tude of the bird will, of course, depend upon the fancy and 

 taste of the operator, and ought to be in conformity with the 

 manners of the bird in a living state. 



A general notion will be gathered of the position of birds' 

 legs, by studying the skeleton which we have represented in 

 plate 1., fig. 1. It will be noticed that the three bones, which 

 compose the legs, are articulated somewhat in the form of the 

 letter Z, varying, of course, in the inclination of the various 

 bones, according to the species of bird. A fault in most stuf- 

 fed birds is the great and unnatural length of leg seen under 

 the feathers, from the circumstance, that the bones are too 

 straight. Even in the division of birds called Waders, such as 

 Cranes, Storks, Herons, &c., where the legs are straighter 

 than in most other orders, the upper joint of the thigh is sub- 

 ject to a considerable inclination. This natural position of the 

 bones of the legs must never be lost sight of in setting up birds 

 after stuffing. 



The bird being now placed on its support, and the legs 

 ready to receive their final position, the first thing to be done 



