72 TAXIDERMY. 



of the end from the hole ; we curve the two ends 

 of the wire into the furrows made for their recep- 

 tion ; we keep them in their place by means of 

 strong wire nails, put in obliquely, so that the 

 heads of the nails cross above the wires ; we can 

 make them still more solid by binding them down 

 with a strong iron wire. The long end of wire 

 which remains, must at least be the length of the 

 neck, head, and beak of the bird. In this case, 

 the wire may be passed into the neck of the bird 

 before the chopped flax is introduced, because, 

 being very thick, it might find some difficulty in 

 its passage through the middle of the flax. The 

 wire being placed, and the neck stuffed, as well as 

 a part of the back, the wood ought to be put in 

 the middle of the body, to supply the place of the 

 oval in other birds. When one of the wires has 

 been passed through the leg, we make it enter 

 about six inches into one of the holes in the wood, 

 and curve it the length of the hinder part of the 

 wood, fixing it there with two nails. We do the 

 same with the other, and tie the whole together 

 with a cord, independent of the nails. The rest 

 of the operation is the same as for other birds. We 

 'place the ostrich on a stand, or flat support, and 

 all birds which do not perch ought to be mounted 

 in this manner. 



It is difficult to preserve an ostrich, by making 

 use of the arsenical soap only. The feathers being 



