SKINNING. 29 



these holes, and twisted so as to secure the bird in its position. 

 The attitude of the bird will, of course, depend upon the fancy 

 and taste of the operator, and ought to be in conformity with the 

 manners of the bird in a living state. 



The wire frame-work, above described, is the most simple of 

 any in its construction, and is better adapted for small than large 

 birds. Indeed, it will hardly suit those of the larger species. The 

 following is another method of constructing the framework, 

 which may be used either in large or small birds : — 



Like the former it is constructed of four pieces of wire. The 

 centre piece should be double the length of the bird ; it is bent at 

 a third of its length of an oval form, and twisted two turns, the 

 shortest end being passed into the oval, and then raised against 

 the longer end, so as to produce a ring at the end, outside of the 

 oval, large enough to admit the two wires which pass from the 

 feet to the inside of the bird. It is now twisted a second time> 

 and firmly united to the longer end, which ought to be straight* 

 with a sharp point, effected by means of a file. As before directed) 

 it is rubbed with oil, and forced through the stuffing of the neck. 

 It ought to be so constructed, by measurement, that the oval part 

 of the wire shall be in the centre of the body inside. The wires 

 of the feet and legs, as before directed, ought to be straight and 

 pointed, and passed through the soles of the feet as before. When 

 the point has penetrated, the other end of the wire may be bent, 

 so that by means of it we may be able to assist in forcing up the 

 remainder of the wire.. The two internal ends of the foot-wires 

 are twisted together, and curved within, so as to pass through the 

 small circle or ring of the middle branch above the oval, to each 

 * side of which they are now attached with a piece of small string. 



The tail-bearer is constructed on the same principles, and at- 

 tached in the same manner, as before described, and the latter 

 apparatus is introduced after the neck and back are finished in 

 the stuffing. 



This practice of introducing the neck-wire, after the neck is 

 stuffed, was first adopted at the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, and 

 is now invariably adopted in that establishment in preference to 

 introducing it before the neck is stuffed. The neck of a swan or 

 other long-necked and large birds, are even done so. It is unques- 

 tionably the best plan which has hitherto been discovered, as it 

 preserves the cylindrical shape of the neck. 



