34 ON STUFFING BIRDS. 
dimensions. The skin is brought together, and sewed up, 
while we take the greatest care to separate the feathers at 
every stitch. 
The orbits of the eyes are next finished, by inserting, with 
small forceps (plate VI. fig. 7) and a short stuffing stick, a 
small quantity of chopped cotton, while attention is paid to 
round the eyelids properly. The glass eyes are now inserted, 
taking care to place them properly under the eyelids. But, 
before fixing the eye, a little calcareous cement must be used, 
to prevent them from coming out. If any part of the nictitating 
membrane is visible below, it must be pushed up with the steel 
point. (See plate VI. fig. 9. and 10.) 
The stuffing of the bird being now completed, the next thing 
is to place it either on a branch, or if a bird which does not 
sit on trees, on a piece of plank; whichever of these it is, 
two holes are bored for the reception of the wires, which have — 
been allowed to protrude from the soles of the feet, for fixing 
the bird. (See plate III, fig. 3.) These, of course, are 
pierced in such situations as are necessary for the attitude or 
position of the legs. The wires are put through these hoies, 
and twisted so as to secure the bird in its position, The aiti- 
tude of the bird will, of course, depend upon the fancy and 
taste of the operator, and ought to be in conformity with the 
manners of the bird in a living state. 
A general notion will be gathered of the position of birds’ 
legs, by studying the skeleton which we have represented in 
plate I., fig. ]. It will be noticed that the three bones, which 
‘compose the legs, are articulated somewhat in the form of the: 
letter Z, varying, of course, in the inclination of the various 
bones, according to the species of bird, A fault in most stuf 
fed birds is the great and unnatural length of leg seen under 
the feathers, from the circumstance, that the bones are too 
straight. Even in the division of birds called Waders, such as 
Cranes, Storks, Herons, &c., where the legs are straighter 
than in most other orders, the upper joint of the thigh is sub- 
ject to a considerable inclination. This natural position of the 
bones of the legs must never be lost sight of in setting up birds 
after stuffing. 
The bird being now placed on its support, and the legs 
ready to receive their final position, the first thing to be done | 
| 
