HOW TO MAKE A BIRDSKIN. 
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■cabinet. Supposing you to have been so far successful, little remains to be done ; the skin 
already looks very much like a dead bird j you have only to give the finishing touches, and 
set "it. Fixing the wings nicely is a great point. Fold each wing closely; see that the 
carpal bend is well defined, that the coverts show their several oblique rows perfectly, that all 
the quills override each other like shingles. Tuck the folded wings close up to the body — 
rather on the bird's back than along its sides ; see that the wing tips meet over the tail {under 
the tail as the bird lies on its back) ; let the carpal angle nestle in the plumage ; have the 
shoulders close together, so that the interscapulars shingle over the scapulars. If the wing be 
pressed in too tightly, the scapulars Avill rise up on end ; there must be neither furrow nor 
ridge about the insertion of the wings ; everything must lie perfectly smooth. At this stage 
of the process, I generally lift up the skin gingerly, and let it slip head first through one hand 
after the other, pressing here or there to correct a deformity, or uniformly to make the whole 
skin compact. The wings set, next bring the legs together, so that the bones within the 
skin lie parallel with each other; bend the heel -joint a little, to let the tarsi cross each other 
about their middle; lay them sidewise on the tail, so that the naturally flexed toes lie flat, all 
the claws mutually facing each other. See that the neck is perfectly straight, and, if anything, 
shortened rather than outstretched ; have the crown of the head flat on the table, the bill point- 
ing straight forward,^ the mandibles shut tightly.^ Never attempt any ''fancy" attitudes with 
£L birdskin; the simpler and more compactly it is made up the better.^ Finally, I say, hang 
over your bird (if you have time) ; dress better the feathers that were well dressed before ; 
perfect every curve ; finish caressingly, and put it away tenderly, as you hope to be shriven 
yourself when the time comes. 
There are several ways of laying a birdskin. A common, easy, and slovenly way is to 
thrust it head first into a paper cone; but it makes a hollow- chested, pot-bellied object, 
unpleasant to see, and renders your nice work on the make-up futile. A paper cylinder, 
corresponding in calibre to the greatest girth of the birdskin, binds the wings well, and makes 
a good ordinary specimen, — perhaps better than the average. Kemarking that there are some 
detestable practices, such as hanging up a bird by a string through the nose (methods only to 
be mentioned to be condemned), I will tell you the easiest and best way, by which the most 
elegant and tasteful results are almost necessarily secured. The skins are simply laid away 
in cotton, just as they come from your hands. Take a considerable wad of cotton, make a 
*' bed" of it, lay the specimen in, and tuck it up nicely around the edges. In efi"ect, I gener- 
-ally take a thin sheet of cotton wadding, the sizing of which confers some textile consistency, 
and wrap the bird completely but lightly in it. By loosening or tightening a trifle here or 
there, laying down a ^' pillow" or other special slight pressure, the most delicate contour-lines 
may be preserved with perfect fidelity. Unnecessary pother is sometimes made about drying 
1 Exceptions. Woodpeckers, ducks, and some other birds treated of beyond, are best set with the head flat 
on one side, the bill pointing obliquely to the right or left ; owls, with the bill pointing straight up in the air as 
the bird lies on its back. 
2 If the mandibles gape, run a thread through the nostrils and tie it tightly under the bill. Or, since this 
injures the nostrils (and we frequently want to examine their structure) stick a pin in under the bill close to the 
gonys, driving it obliquely into the palate. Sometimes the skin of the throat looks sunken betwixt the sides of the 
jaw. A shred of cotton introduced with forceps through the mouth will obviate this. 
3 Don't cock up the head, trying to impart a knowing air — it cannot be done, and only makes the poor bird 
look ridiculous. Don't lay the skin on one side, with the legs in perching position, and don't spread the wings — 
the bird will never perch nor fly again, and the suggestion is unartistic because incongruous. The only permis- 
sible departure from the rule of severe simplicity is when some special ornament, as a fine crest, may be naturally 
displayed, or some hidden markings are desired to be brought out, or a shape of tail or wing to be perpetuated ; 
but in all such cases the "flowery" inclination should be sparingly and judiciously indulged. It is, however, 
frequently desirable to give some special set to hide a defect, as loss of plumage, etc. ; this may often be accom- 
plished very cunningly, with excellent result. No rules for this can be laid down, since the details vary in every 
case; but in general the weak spot may be hidden by contracting the skin of the place, and then setting the bird 
iu an attitude that naturally corresponds, thus making a virtue of necessity. 
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