28 * the taxidermist's guide. 



which it is intended to use. The wire, which is to continue in 

 the leg, is passed across the knee, and brought out interiorly, and, 

 placing it into the ring above mentioned, the same operation is per- 

 formed on the other side. The extremities of the wires of the 

 legs, and the end of the central wire beyond the ring, are all 

 twisted together with flat pincers, and then bent towards the tail. 

 The tail-bearer is next formed, which consists of the fourth piece 

 of wire, with which an oval is formed, by twisting the two ends 

 two or three turns, so that they may form a kind of fork, with the 

 oval nearly the length of the body of the bird ; the two points 

 of the fork must be sharpened with a file, and near enough to 

 enable them to enter the rump, through which they must pass, 

 and their points will be concealed by the rectrices, or large 

 straight tail feathers, while the oval is within the body of the 

 bird. If the bird is large, the tail-bearer must be firmly attached 

 to the interior wires, by twisting a small wire several times round 

 both. But unless the bird be large, it may remain quite free. 



All the parts of the skin at which we can come must be 

 thoroughly rubbed with preserving soap, the rump in particular, 

 which should besides be soaked with the solution of corrosive 

 sublimate. The stuffing is now proceeded with, by inserting 

 chopped flax or tow, till it has attained its proper dimensions. 

 The skin is brought together and sewed up, while we take the 

 greatest care to separate the feathers at every stitch. 



The orbits of the eyes are next finished, by inserting, with 

 small forceps and a short stuffing stick, a small quantity of 

 chopped cotton, while attention is paid to round the eyelids pro- 

 perly. The glass eyes are now inserted, taking care to place them 

 properly under the eyelids. But, before fixing the eye, a little 

 calcareous cement must be used, to prevent them from coming 

 out. If any part of the nictitating membrane is visible below, it 

 must be pushed up with the steel point. 



The stuffing of the bird being now completed, the next thing is 

 to place it either on a branch, or, if a bird which does not sit on 

 trees, on a piece of plank ; whichever of these it is, two holes are 

 bored for the reception of the wires, which have been allowed to 

 protrude from the soles of the feet, for fixing the bird. (See fig. 8.) 

 These, of course, are pierced in such situations as are necessary 

 for the attitude or position of the legs. The wires are put through 



