STUFFING AND MOUNTING BIRDS. 
might he used. I assume, however, that we have to do with 
a recently removed skin which requires no such preparation. 
Having all the required materials at hand, which consist of 
some fine cut tow or cotton-wool, or both ; suitable sized wires, 
a stuffing wire (which consists of a strong wire, one end of which 
has been beaten out into a spoon-like shape), a pair of cutting- 
nippers and pliers, and the other tools already described; lay the 
skin on its hack, as before, with its head to the operator’s left ; 
take a piece of wire of suitable size, and of sufficient length to 
project an inch or so beyond the head and rump of the bird. 
Having filed both ends to a point, take a piece of cork long enough 
to reach from the rump to the side bones of the wing, pass the 
wire through this piece of cork and double up one end of it so 
as to form a loop or staple, the loose end of which is also fixed 
in the cork. How proceed carefully to stuff the head and 
neck if not already done, imitating the form of the head and 
the muscles of the neck to the best of your ability. This part 
of the process, as well as stuffing the head, requires great care ; 
no inequalities of surface must appear except those natural to 
the attitudes and natural muscles of the part. The head stuffed, 
let it be carefully examined, and any defects in the stuffing cor- 
rected ; this may be done by means of a hooked wire or pointed 
bodkin inserted through the openings of the eyes ; but it re- 
quires great care, otherwise the orbits may be irretrievably 
injured. Having arranged the head and neck in a satisfac- 
tory manner, bearing in mind that all parts of the skin and 
bone should be covered with soap or some other preservative, 
the pointed wire may be pushed up the stuffing of the neck, 
and through the crown of the head, until it projects an inch 
or so beyond the cranium. 
Two other wires are now selected of sufficient strength to 
support the bird ; these are also filed to a point at one end, 
and of a length suited to the legs of the bird, and are passed 
through the feet by the side of the leg-bone. One end of the 
wire is left projecting three or four inches through the foot ; 
the other end, after being regulated to a suitable length, and 
bent so as to accord with the shape of the body, is pushed 
through the cork at the point where the legs were separated 
from the body, and firmly riveted into it, or at least twisted at 
the opposite side. 
According to some methods, no cork is made use of, but a 
loop is formed in the body wire at this point, to which the wires 
of the leg are twisted on each side, and the place of the cork 
