ON PRESERVING BIRDS. 



321 



beak, and fastening it to the end of the box with a pin or Preserving 



Birds. 



needle. If you choose to elevate the wings, do so, and 



support them with cotton ; and should you wish to have 

 them particularly high, apply a little stick under each 

 wing, and fasten the end of them to the side of the box 

 with a little bees' wax. 



If you would have the tail expanded, reverse the order 

 of the feathers, beginning from the two middle ones. 

 When dry, replace them in their true order, and the tail 

 will preserve for ever the expansion you have given it. 

 Is the crest to be erect ? move the feathers in a contrary 

 direction to that in which they lie, for a day or two, and 

 it will never fall down after. 



Place the box any where in your room, out of the in- 

 fluence of the sun, wind, and fire ; for the specimen must 

 dry very slowly, if you wish to reproduce every feature. 

 On this account, the solution of corrosive sublimate is 

 uncommonly serviceable ; for at the same time that it 

 totally prevents putrefaction, it renders the skin moist and 

 flexible for many days. While the bird is drying, take 

 it out, and replace it in its position once every day. Then, 

 if you see that any part begins to shrink into disproportion, 

 you can easily remedy it. 



The small covert feathers of the wings are apt to rise 

 a little, because the skin will come in contact with the 

 bone which remains in the mng. Pull gently the part 

 that rises, with your finger and thumb, for a day or two. 



2 T 



