ON STUFFING BIRDS. 35 
is to press the two thumbs on the lower limbs or tarsi, (plate I., 
fig. 1, e,.) to give them a backward inclination from twenty to 
sixty degrees, according to the manner of sitting, natural to 
the bird. The tibia, or second bone, (plate I., fig. 1, f) is next 
bent forward, by which these bones will now have a position 
similar to those of plate I., fig. 1. The head, neck, and wings, 
are then bent, and fixed according to the expression intended 
to be given to the bird. On the disposition of these, much of 
the beauty and character depend. The habits of the bird re- 
quire to be well known, to enable the operator to perform this 
important part with life and spirit. If the living habits of the 
bird are without the reach of his study, he should devote him- 
self to the accounts given of it by naturalists, and also exam- 
ine the best plates in which the species is represented. 
Having fixed on the attitude, it now only remains to put the 
feathers into their natural order as smoothly and regularly as 
possible, and to keep them in this state, they should be bound 
round with small fillets of muslin fastened with pins, in the 
manner represented in plate III., fig. 4. The bird should 
then be thoroughly dried, which must be done by placing it 
in some airy situation, if in summer; or if in winter, near the 
fire, but not so close as to affect the natural oil contained in 
the feathers. The want of proper attention in drying is the 
ruin of many a fine specimen ; because, if they are long kept | 
damp, putridity will ensue in spite of all the preservatives ; 
when the skin will become rotten, and the feathers will soon | 
fall off; besides, the mould and damp long continued change 
the chemical properties of the ingredients used as preserva- 
tives. . 
After the bird has been thoroughly dried, the fillets are re- 
moved ; the wire which protruded from the head is cut off as 
close to the skull as possible with the wire-cutting-pincers 
figured in plate VI., fig. 5. It must then be attached to a cir- 
cular, or other shaped piece of wood, with the generic and spe- 
cific name and sex, as well as its country and locality attached 
to it, on a small ticket, when it may be placed in a museum. 
The wire frame-work, above described, is the most simple 
of any in its construction, and is better adapted for small 
than large birds. Indeed, it will hardly suit those of the 
larger species. The following is another method of construct- 
