118 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



to the beak and fastening it to the end of the box with a pin or needle. 

 If you choose to elevate the wings, do so, and support them with cotton ; 

 and should you wish to have them particularly high, apply a little stick 

 under each wing, and fasten the ends of them to the side of the box with 

 a little beeswax. 



If you would have the tail expanded, reverse the order of the feathers, 

 beginning from the two middle ones. When dry, replace them in their 

 true order, and the tail will preserve for ever the expansion you have 

 given it. Is the crest to be erect ? Move the feathers in a contrary 

 direction to that in which they lie for a day or two, and it will never fall 

 down after. 



Place the box anywhere in your room out of the influence of the sun, 

 wind, and fire, for the specimen must dry very slowly if you wish to 

 reproduce every feature. On this account the solution of corrosive sub- 

 limate is uncommonly eerviceable, for, at the same time that it totally 

 prevents putrefaction, it renders the skin moist and flexible for many 

 days. While the bird is drying, take it out and replace it in its position 

 once every day. Then, if you see that any part begins to shrink into 

 disproportion, you can easily remedy it. 



The small covert feathers of the wings are apt to rise a little, because 

 the skin will come in contact with the bone which remains in the wing. 

 Pull gently the part that rises with your finger and thumb for a day or 

 two ; press the feathers down ; the skin will adhere no more to the bono, 

 and they will cease to rise. 



Every now and then, touch and re-touch all the different parts of the 

 feathers, in order to render them distinct and visible, correcting at the 

 same time any harshness or unnatural risings or sinkings, flatness, or 

 rotundity. This is putting the last finishing touch to it. 



In three or four days the feet lose their natural elasticity, and the 

 knees begin to stiffen. When you observe this, it is time to give the legs 

 any angle you wish, and arrange the toes for a standing position, or curve 

 them to your finger. If you wish to set the bird on a branch, bore a 

 little hole under each foot a little way up the leg, and, having fixed two- 

 proportional spikes on the branch, you can in a moment transfer the bird 

 from your finger to it, and from it to your finger, at pleasure. 



When the bird is quite dry, pull the thread out of the knees, take away 

 the needle, &c., from under the bill, and all is done. 



In lieu of being stiff with wires, the cotton will have given a consider- 

 able elasticity to every part of your bird, so that when perching on your 

 finger, if you press it down with the other hand, it will ri?e again. You 

 need not fear that your hawk will alter, or its colours fade. 



