70 MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 



enough to do this. Cut a tail-wire which is at 

 least as long as the entire bird. Insert it under 

 the tail, so that it enters the muscles in which the 

 feathers are embodied, taking care that it does not 

 spread them apart ; push this up the centre of the 

 body so that it will emerge at an angle just at the 

 upper portion of the Orifice, and clench it. Bend 

 the remaining end under the tail twice, so as to 

 form a T, on which the tail may rest, and which 

 should, however, have the top broad enough to 

 spread the tail on to the required width. During 

 wiring see that the plumage is ruffled as little as 

 possible ; also avoid soiling by keeping the speci- 

 men on clean paper. If by chance the feathers 

 become greasy, they may be cleaned by sprinkling 

 liberally with the dermal preservative, which is 

 afterward brushed off. 



Sew up the orifice neatly, taking care, as before 

 described, only to take in the extreme outer edge 

 of the skin ; and, if the body be not too large, it 

 will meet nicely. If the body has not been made 

 quite large enough, especially on the breast, some 

 cotton may be placed between the skin and body 

 before sewing. This must be done neatly, with 

 tweezers however, not so as to form a wad, but 

 spread out so as to blend neatly with the curve of the 



