TAXIDERMY. 487 



into it several times. We must, during the operation, besprinkle 

 the humid parts with plaster of paris, or dry earth, from time to 

 time, to prevent the feathers from adhering to them and becoming 

 dirty, and also divide the feathers to the right and left, for the 

 same reason. 



"We then take out the wings, cut them off at the second joint, 

 and, taking away the flesh, restore them to their place. This 

 operation answers for small birds ; and we anoint the wings in the 

 parts which are destitute of feathers. We take away the flesh of 

 the thighs, always preserving the bones of the leg, and put them 

 back in their places. 



" If the bird be of a larger size, we must carefully take away 

 all the muscles which adhere to the skin, as well as the fat ; and, 

 if it has been killed by a gun, or holes are otherwise formed in the 

 skin, they must be properly sewed up within. 



"We fix a piece of thread to the first joint of each wing, draw- 

 ing them together to the distance which they occupy when the bird 

 is in the flesh. This precaution, which does not appear to be of 

 great importance, infinitely abridges the operation ; for, when the 

 bird is mounted, the wings place themselves, provided they are 

 properly tied within." Mrs. Lees "Taxidermy." 



The skins of some birds are far less elastic, after being dried, 

 than others, and therefore require particular care in their stuffing. 

 Those of the gallinaceous order, or game-birds generally, are very 

 contractile and non-elastic, and consequently require full stuffing 

 when green, to preserve them in their natural proportions, as it 

 will be found very difficult to stretch them after being dried, even 

 if submitted to the relaxing effects of steam, which softens their 

 entire structure more than any thing else. 



The skins should never be hung up to dry, as the weight of 

 their bodies, if suspended by the head, will stretch their necks to 

 an unseemly length; a somewhat similar result will be effected 

 if they should be hung by the legs. The stuffed skins should be 

 laid out on a plain surface, with their heads and legs gently ex- 

 tended in a line with their bodies. 



