PROCESS FOR PRESERVATION'. 271 
thread, through the nostrils, and after binding them 
round, secure them by a knot. The tongue may be 
either left in the bill, or it may ho taken out and 
fastened with a pin to the specimen when it is dry. 
(225.) The last and finishing operation is putting 
your specimen into the mould or form in which it is to 
remain until the skin is thoroughly dry. This process 
gives it great neatness, compactness, and beauty, and it 
is accomplished with much ease. Make a sugar-loaf 
cap, or hood, of any sort of paper, provided it is smooth, 
and fit it to the bird so that it presses sufficiently close 
all round the head, neck, and breast, to press the 
feathers quite smooth ; if the hood is too loose, contract 
it by folding it narrower or broader at one or both ends, 
as the case may be, leaving sufficient opening at the 
small end to admit the end of the bill, which may 
be pulled a little out to tighten the pressure of the 
cap round the feathers of the head. If, when the hood 
is on, the neck appears too long, push the whole 
body of the bird upwards, by grasping it all round the 
w'ings, legs, and body, so that all these parts are equally 
pressed upwards. This done, let the cap remain on the 
bird for twenty-four hours ; then remove it, by pushing 
the end of the bill downwards, adjust any feathers that 
are out of place, and replace the specimen as it «'as be- 
fore. The hood should be sufficiently long to confine the 
shoulders and the wing covers, and should fit close enough 
to press them on the sides of the breast. MTiting 
paper or old newspapers are preferable to any other 
material for this purpose ; and the edge which folds 
over, and makes the hood, had better be secured with 
two or three drops of sealing-wax, for if the small end 
is twisted, as is done for other purposes, there will be 
no aperture for the projection of the beak, which should 
be always attended to first, because the beak had better 
be very slightly bent forward rather than in a direct 
straight line with the body ; and, secondly, because the 
cap will not fit so close to the feathers of the head if its 
margins do not press round the base of the bill. The 
