116 PRACTICAL TAXIDEEMr. 



of the thigh bone — has been cut away. Now, as this bone never 

 moved perpendicular to the body, but, on the contrary, in an oblique 

 direction, of course, as soon as it is cut ofP, the remaining' part of 

 the thigh and leg, having nothing to support thetn obliquely, must 

 naturally fall to their perpendicular ; hence the reason why the legs 

 appear too long. To correct this, take your needle and thread, fasten 

 the end round the bone inside, and then push the needle through 

 the skin just opposite to it ; look on the outside, and after finding 

 the needle amongst the feathers, tack up the thigh under the wing 

 with several strong stitches. This will shorten the thigh and render 

 it quite capable of supporting the weight of the body without the 

 help of wire. This done take out every bit of cotton except the 

 artificial thighs, and adjust the wiog bones (which are connected by 

 the thread) in the most even manner possible, so that one joint does not 

 appear to be lower than the other, for unless they are quite equal the 

 wings themselves will be unequal when you come to put them in their 

 proper attitude. Here, then, rests the shell of the poor hawk ready 

 to receive from your skill and judgment, the size, the shape, the 

 features, and expression it had ere death and your dissecting hand 

 brought it to its present still and formless state. The cold hand of 

 death stamps deep its mark upon the prostrate victim. When the 

 heart ceases to beat and the blood no longer courses through the 

 veins, the features collapse, and the whole frame seems to shrink within 

 itself. If, then, you have formed your idea of the real appearance of 

 the bird from a dead specimen you will be in error. With this in mind, 

 and at the same time forming your specimen a trifle larger than life 

 to make up for what it will lose in drying, you will reproduce a bird 

 that will please you. 



It is now time to introduce the cotton for an artificial body by means 

 of the little stick like a knitting needle ; and without any other aid 

 or substance than that of this little stick and cotton your own genius 

 must produce those swellings and cavities, that just proportion, that 

 elegance and harmony of the whole, so much admired in animated 

 nature, so little attended to in preserved specimens. After you have 

 introduced the cotton, sew up the orifice you originally made in the 

 belly, beginning at the vent. And from time to time, till you arrive 

 at the last stitch, keep adding a little cotton in order that there 

 may be no deficiency there. Lastly, dip your stick into the solution 

 and put it down the throat three or four times in order that every 

 part may receive it. 



When the head and neck are filled with cotton quite to your liking. 



