
198 - HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 
waders, swimmers, and all other species which frequent the 
land or water, ought to be placed upon flat pieces of board. 
ii d The neck ean now be bent into position, 
and the head directed either to the front or 
side, according to the taste of the operator. 
The wings are next raised up, and placed 
against the sides of the body, in the same 
position as when the bird was living, and 
fastened in place by means of the short 
wires foreed through the shoulder into the 
body (Fig. 38,5). The tail is supported by 
means of a wire inserted beneath the tail feathers and passed 
into the body (e). 
In placing birds in certain positions, it is necessary to 
spread the tail feathers. This may be accomplished in a 
variety of ways. First, by running a small pointed wire 
through the shaft of every feather; this method, however, is 

not applicable to very small birds. Another is to take 3 — 
piece of cardboard, somewhat longer than the width of the 
tail spread out to its full extent, and cut a horizontal slit in 
it of the required length; the feathers are inserted in the 
slit, and are retained in whatever position they have been 
placed. "This method is practiced only upon small birds. 
A third method is to take a piece of wire of small size and 
bend it double, pressing the bent end firmly together with 
the pincers; the tail feathers are then arranged between the 
two, that is with one wire above and tho other beneath them. 
The two loose ends are then brought together and twisted to 
prevent them from springing apart; also to hold the feathers 
more firmly (Fig. 38, £). The latter method is applicable 
. to birds of any size. The two remaining short wires should 
. next be inserted into the body, one upon the back just below 
the curve of the neck, the other above the rump (c and d)- 
ue These are used for convenience in winding, and can be re- 
. Moved after the specimen is dry. The intei should be 
3 v— eh C 
C : AOE ras NC NE nt; b, wing support; e, tail support; /, tail spreader- 




