.Bird Skinning and Mounting. 29 



take a little chopped tow or cotton and place it 

 under the body, on each side, directly where the 

 shoulders come. Pin or sew the edges of the 

 skin together. There will be a long piece of 

 wire projecting from the head. Cut this off, say 

 quarter of an inch from the head ; and making a 

 ring at the unsharpened end, push it through the 

 stump of the tail into the body. This is to sup- 

 port the tail (D). 



Just now the bird is a decidedly shabby look- 

 ing affair, and if you are not careful you w r ill 

 find yourself getting discouraged, and thinking 

 that you have spoiled the skin. But do not 

 despair, for if you have carefully followed the 

 directions, all will be right, and you will soon 

 have the pleasure of seeing a well-mounted 

 specimen. But it will only be after many fail- 

 ures that you will succeed. Remember " Post 

 nubila Phoebus," — and it is just the same with 

 bird stuffing. 



The legs are now straddling wide apart. 

 Bring them together parallel to each other, and 

 make a sharp bend at the knee, bringing them 

 over the body in a natural position. Now place 



