60 TAXIDERMY. 



also pointed. This is effected in the following 

 manner : we make a passage through the claw and 

 bone of the thigh by the aid of a brass awl, the size 

 of the wire we wish to employ; we pass the iron 

 which is to remain in .the leg of the bird across the 

 knee, and bring out interiorly, putting it into the 

 ring, and the same with the other side, and uniting 

 the three ends, that is, the ends of the leg wires, 

 and the end of the central wire beyond the ring; 

 twist them together with a flat, pincer, and lower 

 them towards the tail. It still remains to form the 

 fourth wire which we call the tail-bearer ; we take 

 a piece of iron wire, form an oval with it by twisting 

 the ends two or three turns, in such a manner that 

 after being twisted, these two ends form a fork, and 

 the oval is nearly the third of the length of the 

 bird's body; the two teeth of the fork must be 

 pointed with a file, and near enough together, to 

 enter the rump; their ends will be hid under the 

 great feathers of the tail, and the oval in the body 

 of the bird : if the subject is of a large size, it will 

 be necessary to tie the tail-bearer to the interior 

 machinery, otherwise it may remain free. 



All these wires being placed, and on a layer of 

 chopped flax, we continue to anoint right and left, 

 and above all at the rump ; and in proportion as the 

 preservative is placed, we furnish the part with 

 chopped flax until the bird has attained its proper 

 >size. We then unite the skin by sewing it as we 



