70 
MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 
enough to do this. Cut a tail-wire which is at 
least as long as the entire bird. Insert it under 
the tail, so that it enters the muscles in which the 
feathers are embodied, taking care that it does not 
spread them apart ; push this up the centre of the 
body so that it will emerge at an angle just at the 
upper portion of the orifice, and clench it. Bend 
the remaining end under the tail twice, so as to 
form a T, on which the tail may rest, and which 
should, however, have the top broad enough to 
spread the tail on to the required width. During 
wiring see that the plumage is fufifled as little as 
possible ; also avoid soiling by keeping the speci- 
men on clean paper. If by chance the feathers 
become greasy, they may be cleaned by sprinkling 
liberally with the dermal preservative, which is 
afterward brushed off. 
Sew up the orifice neatly, taking care, as before 
described, only to take in the extreme outer edge 
of the skin ; and, if the body be not too large, it 
will meet nicely. If the body has not been made 
quite large enough, especially on the breast, some 
cotton may be placed between the skin and body 
before sewing. This must be done neatly, with 
tweezers however, not so as to form a wad, but 
spread out so as to blend neatly with the curve of the 
