* 
196 . HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 
plied with the sifter; but if not, use the arsenical soap, 
because it can then be softened more readily when required 
for mounting. Fill the eye-sockets and cavity of the skull 
with cotton. Restore the leg and wing bones to position. 
To accomplish the latter, take hold of the tips of each, aud 
pulling them from each other, they will easily slip into 
place. In turning the head back, take hold of the twine 
whieh is fastened to the bill, pulling it gently and steadily, 
working with the fingers when necessary, taking great care 
not to stretch or tear the skin of the neck. Smooth the 
feathers upon the various parts of the skin, and the speci- 
men is ready for mounting. ; 
The method of mounting a bird. —Having furnished your- 
self with tow, cotton, needle and thread, annealed iron wire 
of a size proportionate to that of the bird to be mounted, 
and the necessary instruments, including the large and small 
forceps, file, pincers, wire cutters, scissors, etc., proceed to 
cut fine a quantity of tow sufficient to fill the neck. With 
the long forceps seize a small bunch of this and insert it up 
through the neck and deposit it under the bill; in this man- 
ner fill from beneath the lower mandible down to the breast 
taking care not to insert too much stuffing or to place it un- 
evenly. Next cut three pieces of wire; one a third longer 
than the total length of the body, for the main support, the 
other two three inches longer than the united length of the 
tarsus and fibula, for the leg supports; also four smaller 
- ones five inches in length, for setting the wings and winding 
purposes. Sharpen each of these with the file to a fine 
point. Take the longest piece and bend in it three small 
. rings, the distance between the two outer ones representing 
the length of the carcass of the bird, leaving one long an 



a one short end, in the same manner as recommended in stuf- 
-fing small quadrupeds. Tow should be wound about the 
. end containing the rings, and moulded into the natural form 
- MEN bod 
the body. This being completed, place the longest pro 
ing end within the skin at the base of the neck stuffing: — 

