HOW TO MAKE A BIEDSKIN. 41 



ordinary taxidermal aliortioiis of the shtiw-casos. But if, after the warninss that I nieaii to 

 convey in this paragi-aph, you still wish to try your hand in the higher department of taxi- 

 dermy, I will explain the whole process as far as manipulation goes ; the art you must discover 

 in yourself. 



The operation of skiiming is precisely the same as that already given in detail; then, 

 instead of stuffing the skin as directed above, to lie on its back in a drawer, you liave to stuff 

 it so that it will stand up on its feet and hxdi as much like a live bird as possiljlc. To this end 

 a few addititnial implements and materials are reipiircd. These are : n, annealed wire of vari- 

 ous numbers ; it may be iron or brass, but must be perfectly annealed, so as to retain no 

 elasticity or " spring;" b, several files of difl'erent sizes ; c, some slender, straight, Ijrad awls ; 

 d, cutting jdiers ; e, setting needles, merely sewing or darning needles stuck in a light woijden 

 handle, fir (h-essing individual feathers ; /, plenty of pins (tlie long, slender insect jiius used by 

 entomologists are the best) and sewing thread ; r/, an assortment of glass eyes. (The fixtures 

 and decorations are noticed, beyond, as occasion for their use arises.) 



There are Uyo principal methods of mounting, which may be respectively styled soft stuff- 

 ing and hard stuffing. In the former, a wire framework, consisting of a single anterior piece 

 passing in the middle line of the body up through the neck ami lait at top of the head, is 

 immovably joined behind with two pieces, one passing through each leg: around this naked 

 forked frame soft stuffing is introduced, Ijit by bit, till the proper contour .if the skin is secured. 

 I have seen very pretty work of this kind, particularly on small birds; but I consider it much 

 more difficult to secure satisfa<-tory results in this way than liy hard stuffing, and I shall there- 

 fore confine attention to the latter. This method is applicable to all birds, is readily practised, 

 facilitates setting of the wings, arranging of the plumage, and giving of any desired attitude. 

 In hard stuffing, you make a firm liall of tow rolled upon a wire of the size and shape of the 

 bird's body and neck together; you iutroduce this wh.de, afterwards running in the lc>g wires 

 and clinching them immovably in the mass of tow. 



Having your empty skin in good shape, as already described ; cut three pieces of wire of 

 tlic right 1 size; one piece somewhat longer than the whole bird, the other pieces two eir three 

 times as long as the whole leg of the bird. File one end of each piece to a fine sharp point; 

 try to secure a three-edged cutting point like that of a surgical needle, rather than the smooth 

 punching point of a sewing-needle, as the former perforates more I'cadily. Have these wires 

 perfectly straight.^ Bend a small portion of the unfiled end of the longer wire irregularly upon 

 itself, as a convenient nucleus for the l)all of tow.^ Take fine clean tow, in loose dossils, and 

 wrap it round and round the wire nucleus, till you ]nake a firm ball, of the size and shape of 

 tlie bird's body and neck. Study the contour of the skinned body : notice the swelling breast- 

 muscles, the arch fjf the lower back, tlie lioUow between the furcnla into which the neck, when 

 naturally curved, sinks. Everything depends upon correct .shaping of the artificial body ; if 

 it be misshapen^ no art can properly adjust the skin over it. Firmness of the tow ball and 

 accurate contour may both be secured by wrapping the mass with sewing thread, loosening 

 here, tightening there, till the shape is satisfactory. Be particular to secure a smooth super- 

 ficies ; the skin in drying will shrink close to tlie stuffing, disclosing its irregularities, if there 

 be any, by the maladjustment of the plumage that will ensue. Observe especially that the 

 neck, though the direct continuation of the backbone, dips at its lower end into the hollow of 

 the merry-thought, and so virtually begins there instead of directly lictween the shoulders. 



1 The right size is the smallest that will support the whole weight of the stul^ing ami skin without bending, 

 when a piece is introduced into each leg. If using too thick wire, you may have trouble in thrusting it through 

 the legs, or may burst the tarsal envelope. 



= If accidentally kinky, the finer sizes of wire may be readily straightened by drawing strongly upon them 

 so as to stretch them a little. Heavier wire must be h,ammered out straight. 



s Cotton will not do at all ; it is too soft and elastic, and moreover will not allow of the leg wires being thrust 

 into it and there clinched. 



