19° TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



of this is that the lower part of the wing, as the upper, rests 

 upon an arch of wire, the top end of which is thrust into the 

 body, and the other end through the stiif part of the wing 

 below, this being a better method than that of sticking a wire 

 or a pin straight in as is usually done. Having quite settled 

 the question as to more filling on the opened side, pin up the 

 feathers of the flank under the wing of that side, wire the wing 

 as on the other side, and the bird is complete, all but binding or 

 " cottoning." The head-wire must, however, be cut off, and this 

 is done by forcing the head gently upon the neck, thus tem- 

 porarily shortening the latter a little, then cutting the wire, and 

 afterwards pulling the head up until the wire rests within the 

 skull ; if done, and the feathers pricked over, before the skin 

 dries, the hole will never be seen. 



Every bird, whether set up in a flying, or perching, or any 

 other position, must have the tail, if not spread, at least with 

 the feathers nicely overlapping one another from the centre, 

 and these will tiot remain in that position unless certain pre- 

 cautions are taken in addition to binding. Take, therefore, a 

 piece of thin cardboard, and cut it of double the width of the 

 tail when spread to the extent desired, and of a sufficient 

 length. Fold this in the middle and give it a slight curva- 

 ture, and in the centre of one half make two holes a little 

 distance from each edge. Through these holes thread a wire, 

 just stout enough, when one end is pointed, to penetrate the 

 body, and of a length to reach beyond the middle of the tail 

 when firmly inserted. Push this wire, armed with the card- 

 board strip unfolded, into the body under the tail until the strip 

 rests about the centre ; spread the tail as much as required, and, 

 keeping it so, fold down the top half of the strip and stick a 

 pin through the free ends to keep them together, another in the 

 centre, and so on, regulating each feather whilst proceeding, and 

 this, with the curvature previously given to the cardboard, will 



