ON STUFFING BIRDS. 43 



be suspended from the ceiling 1 , by a piece of very fine brass 

 wire, such as is used for piano-forte strings. This may either 

 be attached to a hook in the back, placed betwixt the wings, 

 or drawn through the body with a veiy long slender needle. 

 The best plan, if you have determined on the flying position, 

 previous to stuffing, is to fix this small wire to a transverse piece 

 of strong wire, attached to the oval inside, which should be 

 placed pretty far forward, so as to balance the bird. 



A very spirited and striking position is, when the bird is 

 about to take flight. In this attitude, it is placed with the body 

 reclining forward, and the wings slightly raised, which can be 

 managed without the assistance of external wires, by merely 

 placing a little cotton or tow under the wings, while the skin is 

 yet wet. 



The moment of alarm is also an interesting attitude. To 

 express this, the one foot must be placed stretched forward, 

 and the other drawn near the body, and considerably bent. 

 The body must be thrown to one side, with the wing 1 on 

 that side much elevated and spread out, while the other is 

 placed lower and less diffuse; the tail must be expanded, 

 thrown down at the point, and arched ; the neck should be ele- 

 vated, and inclined to the side next the foot which is drawn 

 up ; the head turned to one side, and the eyes rivetted on the 

 object of its terror ; the bill must also be open. 



In Eagles, Vultures, and other birds of prey, a favourite 

 attitude is the position of seizing their prey. This varies 

 according to the species. The Golden Eagle, when he 

 has seized his quarry, expands his wings and tail, like a 

 curtain around the bird, gazes upwards, and throws his head 

 backwards, in an attitude of triumph and defence ; the feathers 

 of his crest and neck stand nearly erect, and he gazes around 

 in every direction, to observe if he is safe from the intrusion of 

 an enemy before he devours his victim. 



Descriptions of this kind are endless ; let those who intend 

 stuffing birds study nature in its various details, and, where this 

 cannot be come at, good books and prints will be found an ex- 

 cellent substitute. These we shall point out in their proper 

 place. 



