KILLING AND SHAPING. 89 



Ttie moaus operandi is as follows : As soon as the 

 birds are plucked, which should be done carefully and 

 thoroughly, the hocks are tied loosely together, so 

 that the legs are flat against either side of the breast. 

 Before doing so, however, some of the more skilful 

 fatteners draw the breast meat upwards by means of 

 the hands, and this undoubtedly improves the appear- 

 ance of the bird, though it must be done carefully to 



Fig. 14.— Shaped Sussex Fowl (breast downwards). 



prevent breaking the skin. The operator strikes the 

 stern against a wall, thus flattening and making it fit 

 the shaping-trough more easily. Each bird is laid in 

 ■the trough breast downwards, with the neck and head 

 hanging over the front. The first bird is pressed firmly 

 against the end of the trough, and a glazed brick or 

 weight laid by the side to keep it in position. When 

 the second and succeeding birds are placed in the 



