302 
ON PRESERVING BIRDS. 
pmserving the neck, raise the cork, by putting more cotton 
under it. If the head is to be brought forward, 
bring the cork nearer to the end of the box. If it 
requires to be set backwards on the shoulders, move 
back the cork. 
As in drying, the back part of the neck will shrink 
more than the fore part, and thus throw the beak 
higher than you wish it to be, putting you in mind 
of a stargazing horse, prevent this fault, by tying a 
thread to the beak, and fastening it to the end of 
the box with a pin or needle. If you choose to 
elevate the wings, do so, and support them with 
cotton ; and should you wish to have them parti¬ 
cularly high, apply a little stick under each wing, 
and fasten the end of them to the side of the box 
with a little bees’ wax. 
If you would have the tail expanded, reverse the 
order of the feathers, beginning from the two middle 
ones. When dry, replace them in their true order, 
and the tail will preserve for ever the expansion you 
have given it. Is the crest to be erect ? move the 
feathers in a contrary direction to that in which they 
lie, for a day or two, and it will never fall down 
after. 
Place the box any where in your room, out of the 
influence of the sun, wind and fire; for the speci¬ 
men must dry very slowly, if you wish to reproduce 
every feature. On this account, the solution of 
corrosive sublimate is uncommonly serviceable$ for 
at the same time that it totally prevents putrefaction, 
it renders the skin moist and flexible for many days. 
