28 INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF BIRDS. 
which was sharply pointed. The length of the stick was proportioned 
to reach from the skull of the bird to the tail-bone, the part destined 
to form the neck being wrapped round with tow and then well covered 
with arsenical soap. Holding the skin by the beak, the artificial neck 
was then coaxed up the skin of the neck, and the sharp point firmly 
imbedded in the skull of the bird, while the other end of the stick was 
fixed against the tail-bone. This is an excellent plan for making 
skins which have to be packed and transported for a long distance, 
as the stick serves as a support and renders the head and neck less 
liable to be broken in transit. 
Another method of filling the eyes and the neck is to put bleached 
wool into the sockets as soon as the head is ready for turning back ; 
and a neck of tow is made (a little larger than the natural one), 
and rammed tightly into the skull. Then the skin is pulled back 
over the artificial neck of tow, which has been well anointed with 
arsenical soap. By pulling the tow neck back towards the body, 
the head and neck can be well drawn in. Our own experience is 
that Mr. Davison's way of filling out the eyes with wool from 
the palate has the best results, and disturbs the set of the eyelid 
less than the last-mentioned method ; but the collector will soon 
find out in which way he can produce the best results. In no 
case should the eye-socket be filled in from the outside after the skin 
of the head has been restored to its proper place, as the eyelid is 
sure to be destroyed or forced inwards, and the appearance of the 
skin will suffer. 
Before filling in the body of the bird, it is very important that the 
set of the wings should be attended to, so that the skin may not 
become lop-sided. Bunning parallel to the two bones of the humerus, 
as the skin lies on its back, will be found two broad rough patches 
of fat on the back of the bird, marking feather-tracts. If the two 
humeri are laid along these patches, and kept in position by a little 
wool laid upon them, it will be found that the wings will fall naturally 
into their place, and will not move. Another excellent method 
is to tie the wing-bones together at the elbows, leaving the natural 
space between them. It is also well to take a fine needle, and 
gently lift the skin of the crown and sides of the head, so that the 
e.ir- coverts fall into their natural position. Then the body of the 
