Guide to Taxidermy 29 



immediately. Birds up to the size of an eagle can 

 be most speedily killed by compressing the lungs 

 with the thumb and fingers ; this is the most humane 

 way and does no injury to the specimen. The 

 method of holding is shown in sketch opposite. 

 Birds of prey can safely be killed in this manner 

 as they are unable to reach your hand with their 

 talins. Large birds are often killed by plunging a 

 sharp knife under the left wing into the heart; if 

 this is done their mouth and throat must be well 

 filled with cotton and the wound plugged also. 



How to Shoot 



We take it for granted that everyone knows how 

 to handle a gun, that is, knows how to aim and fire 

 it; still many do not have much success even at sit- 

 ting objects with a shotgun and even less with a 

 rifle, while they never killed a flying bird except by 

 accident. We think that the reason for most misses 

 is lack of control over the nerves. 



I have seen men aim at a sitting bird, sight along 

 the barrel, hesitate, aim again, etc., until the bird in 

 disgust flew away. Do not aim at the bird until 

 you know that you want it, then raise the gun and 

 tlie instant the front sight touches it pull the trig- 



