68 MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 



by the feathers. The wing should be outstretched 

 when this is done. 



Cut wire for the legs of the same size as used for 

 the neck, and about as long. Pass them up through 

 the tarsus, inserting in the middle of the sole of 

 the foot. Be sure the wire is perfectly straight 

 before attempting this. A good way to straighten 

 wire is to place a pine-board on the floor, stand on 

 it, and then draw a long pull of wire under it by 

 grasping the end with pliers ; or a small piece of 

 wire may be straightened by rolling it on the 

 bench with a file. If the skin of the tarsus splits 

 in boring, it shows that the wire used is either 

 too large or crooked. After the wire is pushed up 

 to the heel or tarsal joint (Fig. 15, f), turn the 

 tibial bone out until the point of the wire appears, 

 when it should be grasped and drawn up so that 

 the point protrudes slightly beyond the tibial 

 joint. Wrap the tibial bone, wire and all, with 

 cotton or tow (in large specimens, the wire should 

 be bound to the bone with fine wire or thread) so 

 as to form a natural leg, then draw it back into 

 the skin. Next force the wire through the body 

 at the point where the knee touches it, or about 

 midway on the side. The wire will emerge on the 

 opposite side. Turn down the skin of the orifice, 



