54 Handbook of Taxidermy. 



of cloth for cotton, etc. For all I vds under the 

 size of a crow, this basket is very convenient. 



Before going out provide yourself with a num- 

 ber of sheets of stiff paper. As soon as a bird is 

 shot, fill the mouth, anus, and shot-holes with 

 cotton, and drop the bird head foremost, with bill 

 pointing downwards, into a cornucopia of the 

 paper, just the size of the bird's body, and fold the 

 edges over the tail, taking care not to rumple or 

 break the tail feathers. When birds are shot, 

 they do not always die at once ; but they may be 

 put out of misery by placing the thumb under 

 one wing, and the forefinger under the other, and 

 squeezing. After a second or so, the bird will 

 give a gasp and die. 



This cannot be done in the case of large birds. 

 To kill these, insert a thin knife-blade between 

 the skull and last vertebra, cutting through the 

 spinal cord ; or break the back by pressing 

 upon it with the knee. 



TRANSPORTING. 



Skins may be either packed in boxes, between 

 layers of cotton, or they may be pushed head first 



