320 ' ON PRESERVING BIRDS. 



Preserving the beak. Tliis may be done with such nicety, that the 



Birds. 



stitch cannot be observed ; 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 every thing 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 

 admirably. 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 diying, the back part of the neck will shrink 

 more than the forepart, and thus throw the beak higher 

 than you wish it to be, putting you in mind of a star- 

 gazing horse, prevent this fault, by tying a thread to the 



