STUFFING AND WIRING. 85 
which the neck, when naturally curved, sinks. Everything 
depends upon correct shaping of the artificial body; if it be 
misshapen, no art can properly adjust the skin overit. Firm- 
ness of the tow ball and accurate contour may both be secured 
by wrapping the mass with sewing thread, loosening here, 
tightening there, till the shape is satisfactory. Be particular 
to secure a smooth superficies ; the skin in drying will shrink 
close to the stuffing, disclosing its irregularities, if there be 
any, by the maladjustment of the plumage that will ensue. 
Observe especially that the neck, though the direct continua- 
tion of the backbone, dips at its lower end into the hollow 
of the merrythought, and so virtually begins there instead of 
directly between the shoulders. The three mistakes most 
likely to be made by a beginner are, getting the body 
altogether too large, not firm enough, and irregular. When 
properly made it will closely resemble the bird’s body and 
neck, with an inch or several inches of sharp-pointed wire pro- 
truding from the anterior extremity of the neck of tow. You 
have now to introduce the whole affair into the skin. With the 
birdskin on its back, the tail pointing to your right elbow, and 
the abdominal opening as wide as possible, hold the body 
in position relative to the skin; enter the wire, pass it up 
through the neck, bring the sharp point exactly against the 
middle of the skull, pierce skull and skin, causing the wire to 
protrude some distance from the middle of the crown. Then 
by gentle means insinuate the body, partly pushing it in, 
partly drawing the skin over it, till it rests in its proper 
position. This is just like drawing on a tight kid glove, and 
no more difficult. See that the body is completely encased ; 
you must be able to close the abdominal aperture entirely. 
You haye next to wire the legs. Enter the sharp point of 
one of the leg wires already prepared, exactly at the centre 
of the sole of the foot, thrusting it up inside the tarsal en- 
velope the whole length of the ‘“‘shank,” thence across the 
heel-joint * and up along the next bone of the leg, still inside 

* There is occasionally difficulty in getting the wire across this joint, from the 
point sticking into the enlarged end of the shin-bone. In such case, take stout 
