ON STUFFING BIRDS. 35 



is to press the two thumbs on the lower limbs or tarsi, (plate I., 

 fig-. 1, e,) to give them a backward inclination from twenty to 

 sixty degrees, according to the manner of sitting, natural to 

 the bird. The tibia, or second bone, (plate L, fig. I,/,) is next 

 bent forward, by which these bones will now have a position 

 similar to those of plate I., fig. 1. The head, neck, and wings, 

 are then bent, and fixed according to the expression intended 

 to be given to the bird. On the disposition of these, much of 

 the beauty and character depend. The habits of the bird re- 

 quire to be well known, to enable the operator to perform this 

 important part with life and spirit. If the living habits of the 

 bird are without the reach of his study, he should devote him- 

 self to the accounts given of it by naturalists, and also exam- 

 ine the best plates in which the species is represented. 



Having fixed on the attitude, it now only remains to put the 

 feathers into their natural order as smoothly and regularly as 

 possible, and to keep them in this state, they should be bound 

 round with small fillets of muslin fastened with pins, in the 

 manner represented in plate III., fig. 4. The bird should 

 then be thoroughly dried, which must be done by placing it 

 in some airy situation, if in summer ; or if in winter, near the 

 fire, but not so close as to affect the natural oil contained in 

 the feathers. The want of proper attention in drying is the 

 ruin of many a fine specimen ; because, if they are long kept 

 damp, putridity will ensue in spite of all the preservatives ; 

 when the skin will become rotten, and the feathers will soon 

 fall off; besides, the mould and damp long continued change 

 the chemical properties of the ingredients used as preserva- 

 tives. 



After the bird has been thoroughly dried, the fillets are re- 

 moved ; the wire which protruded from the head is cut off as 

 close to the skull as possible with the wire-cutting-pincers 

 figured in plate VI., fig. 5. It must then be attached to a cir- 

 cular, or other shaped piece of wood, with the generic and spe- 

 cific name and sex, as well as its country and locality attached 

 to it, on a small ticket, when it may be placed in a museum. 



The wire frame-work, above described, is the most simple 

 of any in its construction, and is better adapted for small 

 than large birds. Indeed, it will hardly suit those of the 

 larger species. The following is another method of construct- 



