ON STUFFING BIRDS. 43 
be suspended from the ceiling, by a piece of very fine brass 
wire, such as is used for piano-forte strings. This may either 
be attached to a hook in the back, placed betwixt the wings, 
or drawn through the body with a very long slender needle. 
The best plan, if you have determined on the flying position, 
previous to stuffing, is to fix this small wire to a transverse piece 
of strong wire, attached to the oval inside, which should be 
placed pretty far forward, so as to balance the bird. 
A very spirited and striking position is, when the bird is 
| about to take flight. In this attitude, it is placed with the body 
_ reclining forward, and the wings slightly raised, which. can be 
managed without the assistance of external wires, by merely 
placing a little cotton or tow under the wings, while the skinis | 
yet wet. 
The moment of alarm is also an interesting attitude. To 
express this, the one foot must be placed stretched forward, 
and the other drawn near the body, and considerably bent. 
The body must be thrown to one side, with the wing on 
that side much elevated and spread out, while the other is 
placed lower and less diffuse; the tail must be expanded, 
thrown down at the point, and arched ; the neck should be ele- | 
‘vated, and inclined to the side next the foot which is drawn | 
up; the head turned to one side, and the eyes rivetted on the | 
object of its terror; the bill must also be open. 
In Eagles, Vultures, and other birds of prey, a favourite | 
attitude is the position of seizing their prey. This varies 
according to the species. The Golden Eagle, when he — 
has seized his quarry, expands his wings and tail, like a | 
curtain around the bird, gazes upwards, and throws his head | 
backwards, in an attitude of triumph and defence ; the feathers | 
of his crest and neck stand nearly ereet, and he gazes around | 
in every direction, to observe if he is safe from the intrusion of | 
an enemy before he devours his victim. 
Descriptions of this kind are endless; let those who intend 
stuffing birds study nature in its various details, and, where this 
cannot be come at, good books and prints will be found an ex- 
cellent substitute. ‘These we shall point out in their proger 
place. 
