522 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



the portion of wing to be taken off. This must be done according 

 to the directions laid down above. The flesh is then to be cut 

 down to the bone with a sharp knife, and the bone sawed through 

 with a very fine saw, at a point just above the fracture. If a saw 

 is not at hand, a pair of sharp shears may be used for cutting the 

 bone. 



Nipping the bones with shears, however, is very apt to fracture 

 them and leave a ragged and uneven edge protruding from the 

 wound, which will prove very painful to the bird and retard its 

 recovery ; the use of the small saw is far better. These opera- 

 tions, although very simple in themselves and such as any school- 

 boy can practise, still require some little skill and artistical cunning 

 to perform properly. 



