‘40 THE NATURALIST’S- GUIDE. 
where the humerus joins the sternum (Plate X. B) to just 
beyond the lower joint of the thigh (p), after which skin as 
before. . 
If any Gales become twisted or bent, they may be 
.instantly straightened by holding them in steam. If tho 
feathers are to be smoothed, raise them with the fingers or 
tweezers, and let them fall back in place ; they will gene- 
rally come down smoothly. If the feathers come out, put a 
-drop of glue upon the end of each, and place it in the 
. proper position ; it will stay, when dry. In this way large 
“bare places may. be covered. 
Mounting dried Skins. — To mount dried skins, remove 
. the stuffing with which they are filled, and supply its place 
i with dampened cotton, also wrap the legs well with it; 
.place the skin in a box, where it must remain until it 
. becomes pliable, but not too soft, as it is then liable to drop 
in pieces. It is to be mounted as described, excepting that 
!the neck-is filled with cut hemp instead of bran. Birds 
<mounted from dried skins require more care in mounting, 
and more binding to ties the feathers into proper posi- 
tion, than fresh-birds. © 
_ Never paint or var nish the. feet or bill of a bird ; the 
igcales on the feet of birds, are one of the most interesting 
- characters in the study of -ornithology, and they cannot 
readily be seen when covered: with paint or varnish. In 
- mounting birds larger. than a Robin, the muscles of the leg- 
_ bone must be supplied‘ by winding the tibia with hemp 
until the original size and..shape is attained. Particular 
- attention must be paid to the legs of the Waders and rapa- 
- cious birds. The exceptions to this rule are all swimming 
birds ; as the tibia is. buried in the body, it does not need 
« winding. 
In mounting Hunn: Birds with the wings extended, 
especially from dried skins,-there is no need of wiring the 
leg, Place a single wire in the back part of the body, with 
