ON PRESERVING BIRDS. 



275 



which appears within it when in life. So that, were 

 yon to proportion yonr eye to the size the orbit is 

 capable of receiving, it would be far too large. In- 

 attention to this has caused the eyes of every specimen, 

 in the best cabinets of natural history, to be out of all 

 proportion. To prevent this, contract the orbit, by 

 means of a very small delicate needle and thread, at 

 that part of it furthest from the beak. This may be 

 done with such nicety, that the stitch cannot be ob- 

 served ; and thus you have the artificial eye in true 

 proportion. 



After this, touch the bill, orbits, feet, and former 

 oil-gland at the root of the tail, with the solution, and 

 then you have given to the hawk everything necessary, 

 except attitude, and a proper degree of elasticity, two 

 qualities very essential. 



Procure any common ordinary box ; fill one end of 

 it, about three-fourths up to the top, with cotton, 

 forming a sloping plane'. Make a moderate hollow in 

 it to receive the bird. Now take the hawk in your 

 hands, and, after putting the wings in order, place it 

 in the cotton, with its legs in a sitting posture. The 

 head will fall down. Never mind. Get a cork, and 

 run three pins into the end, just like a three-legged 

 stool. Place it under the bird's bill, and run the 

 needle, which you formerly fixed there, into the head 

 of the cork. This will support the bird's head ad- 

 mirably. If you wish to lengthen the neck, raise the 

 cork, by putting more cotton under it. If the head is 

 to be brought forward, bring the cork nearer to the end 

 of the box. If it requires to be set backwards on the 

 shoulders, move back the cork. 



As in drying, the back part of the neck will shrink 



