74 
MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 
proper places, the first highest and the others 
under them, which will give the bird a good 
rounded back. Now place the bird in the proper 
attitude, with the neck properly bent, remember- 
ing that in nearly all birds this nearly assumes the 
form of the letter S, especially in long-necked 
species. I do not like to see a bird staring 
straight forward, but, as this is a mere matter of 
fancy, I will not presume to dictate regarding 
attitudes, only make the specimen look easy. Be 
artistic, even if the specimen is going into a 
public museum, where birds too often stare at the 
visitors in grotesque attitudes. One can be 
interesting and easy even in writing on the driest 
scientific subject, — why not then give ease and 
grace to our museum specimens ? No more room 
need be occupied ; a slight turn of the head, a 
twist of the neck, or an advance of a foot, will do 
9m 
this just as a bird would do it if it were alive. 
Now place the eyes in position, and these should be 
pushed well into the clay, and the lids arranged 
over them naturally with a needle. Do not have 
the eyes too large, as it gives the bird a staring ex- 
pression, nor too small, but as near as possible to 
the natural ones removed. It would be well in 
ordering eyes from a dealer to give the measure- 
