40 
THE NATURALIST’S GUIDE. 
where the humerus joins the sternum (Plate X. B) to just 
beyond the lower joint of the thigh (p), after which skin as 
before. 
If any feathers become twisted or bent, they may be 
instantly straightened by holding them in steam. If the 
feathers are to be smoothed, raise them with the fingers or 
tweezers, and let them fall back in place ; they will gene- 
rally come down smoothly. If the feathers come out, put a 
drop of glue upon the end of each, and place it in the 
proper position ; it will stay, when dry. In this way large 
bare places may be covered. 
Mounting dried Skins, — To mount dried skins, remove 
the stuffing with which they are filled, and supply its place 
with dampened cotton, also wrap the legs well with it ; 
place the skin in a box, where it must remain until it 
becomes pliable, but not too soft, as it is then liable to drop 
in pieces. It is to be mounted as described, excepting that 
the neck is filled with cut hemp instead of bran. Birds 
mounted from dried skins require more care in mounting, 
and more binding to bring the feathers into proper posi- 
tion, than fresh birds. 
Never paint or varnish the feet or bill of a bird ; the 
scales on the feet of birds are one of the most interesting 
characters in the study of ornithology, and they cannot 
readily be seen when covered with paint or varnish. In 
mounting birds larger than a Eobin, the muscles of the leg- 
bone must be supplied by winding the tibia with hemp 
until the original size and shape is attained. Particular 
attention must be paid to the legs of the Waders and rapa- 
cious birds. The exceptions to this rule are all swimming 
birds ; as the tibia is buried in the body, it does not need 
winding. 
In mounting Humming-Birds with the wings extended, 
especially from dried skins, there is no need of wiring the 
leg. Place a single wire in the back part of the body, with 
