﻿PROCESS FOR PRESERVATION. 



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thread, through the nostrils, and after binding them 

 round, secure them by a knot. The tongue may be 

 either left in the bill, or it may be taken out and 

 fastened with a pin to the specimen when it is dry. 



(225.) The last and finishing operation is putting 

 your specimen into the mould or form in which it is to 

 remain until the skin is thoroughly dry. This process 

 gives it great neatness, compactness, and beauty, and it 

 is accomplished with much ease. Make a sugar-loaf 

 cap, or hood, of any sort of paper, provided it is smooth, 

 and fit it to the bird so that it presses sufficiently close 

 all round the head, neck, and breast, to press the 

 feathers quite smooth ; if the hood is too loose, contract 

 it by folding it narrower or broader at one or both ends., 

 as the case may be, leaving sufficient opening at the 

 small end to admit the end of the bill, which may 

 be pulled a little out to tighten the pressure of the 

 cap round the feathers of the head. If, when the hood 

 is on, the neck appears too long, push the whole 

 body of the bird upwards, by grasping it all round the 

 wings, legs, and body, so that all these parts are equally 

 pressed upwards. This done, let the cap remain on the 

 bird for twenty-four hours ; then remove it, by pushing 

 the end of the bill downwards, adjust any feathers that 

 are out of place, and replace the specimen as it was be- 

 fore. The hood should be sufficiently long to confine the 

 shoulders and the wing covers, and should fit close enough 

 to press them on the sides of the breast. Writing 

 paper or old newspapers are preferable to any other 

 material for this purpose; and the edge which folds 

 over, and makes the hood, had better be secured with 

 two or three drops of sealing-wax, for if the small end 

 is twisted, as is done for other purposes, there will be 

 no aperture for the projection of the beak, which should 

 be always attended to first, because the beak had better 

 be very slightly bent forward rather than in a direct 

 straight line with the body ; and, secondly, because the 

 cap will not fit so close to the feathers of the head if its 

 margins do not press round the base of the bill. The 



