SKIKNIXG. 31 



end through the rump and the other through the crown of the 

 head, near the base of the bill. Care must be taken not to extend 

 the neck beyond its ordinary length — a very common fault in 

 most preservers. Lay a little tow along the back of the skin for 

 the wire to rest on, then take two other pieces of strong wire and 

 file them to a point at one end ; these are passed through the 

 soles of the feet and up the centre of the leg-bone, or tarsus. 

 When within the body, they are to be fastened to the first wires 

 by twisting them together, which, when accomplished, may be 

 supposed to represent the back bone. The wire should be left 

 two or three inches out of the soles of the feet, to fasten them in 

 a standing position, as before directed. Two smaller wires are 

 then passed through the wings, as in the legs, and afterwards 

 fastened to the back-wires a little higher up than the leg-wires, 

 taking care that no part of the skin is to be extended beyond its 

 natural position. 



A NEW AND EASIER METHOD OF BIRD SKINNING AND 

 STUFFING. 



A fair specimen being obtained, take common cotton wadding, 

 and with an ordinary paint-brush stick plug the throat, nostrils, 

 and, in large birds, the ears, with it, so that when the skin is 

 turned no juices may flow and spoil the feathers ; you must then 

 provide yourself with the following articles : — A knife of this 

 kind, which is very common ; a pair of cutting plyers, a pair of 

 strong scissors, of a moderate size ; a button-hook, a marrow- 

 spoon, and a hand-vice. "With these, a needle and thread, and a 

 sharpener of some kind, to give your knife an occasional touch, 

 you are prepared, so far as implements go. Then provide your- 

 self with annealed iron wire of various sizes ; some you may buy 

 ready for use, some not ; but you can anneal it yourself by mak- 

 ing it red hot in the fire, and letting it cool in the air. Common 

 hemp is the next article, cotton wadding, pounded whitening, and 

 pounded alum, or chloride of lime; as to the poisons which are 

 used, they will be spoken of by and by. You should also have a 

 common bradawl or two, and some pieces of quarter-inch pine 

 whereon to stand the specimens when preserved, if to be placed 

 as walking on a plane ; if not, some small pieces of twigs or small 

 branches of trees should be kept ready for use, of various sizes 



