22 
THE NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL. 
The directions for skinning should be followed until the 
neck has been returned to its proper position and filled with 
cotton wool or tow, and the body is ready to fill. Now take 
a piece of wire, of a gauge proportionate to the size of the 
bird and twice the length of the latter, and sharpen it at one 
end; push it through the root of the tail and longitudinally 
through the centre of a cork, then pass it up the neck and 
press the end through the crown of the head and leave it 
projecting an inch or two beyond. The breast and upper 
part of the body may now be filled with wool, but care should 
be taken not to press it in in lumps. Now take two shorter 
wires, sharpened at one end, and pass them through to the 
soles of the feet and up the legs and press into the cork ; 
they should then be bent to form the natural joints of the 
limbs. The skin may now be carefully filled down to the 
vent, and any little deficiencies also corrected ; small portions 
of wool may be introduced to parts which are lacking in 
shape ; and a little pressure will remedy any bulging; then 
carefully sew the opening up and insert the artificial eyes, 
but do not allow them to protrude in an unnatural manner. 
The bird may now be fixed (by the wires in the feet) on a 
piece of board, if to be represented standing, or a branch if 
perching. In fixing the attitude of the specimen the amateur 
will find it well to have a good illustration to work to, or 
what is better, a well-mounted specimen ; the head must be 
carefully finished off, and the plumage neatly arranged, and 
a wire should be passed through each wing into the body to 
keep them in place. Care must be taken to have the attitude 
of the bird when mounted quite natural. The wire project¬ 
ing under the tail should be bent to afford support to the 
tail and tips of the wings. The specimen must now be left 
until quite dry, when all projecting wires must be cut off. 
With regard to the number of specimens required, if one is 
forming a collection of birds, I may say that a pair of adult 
birds of each species (with the addition of immature birds or 
interesting varieties) would be quite sufficient for any collec¬ 
tion. No true naturalist collects specimens merely for the 
sake of possession. 
A few specimen copies of the Naturalists’ Journal will 
be forwarded free to any correspondents who will kindly 
undertake to distribute them among their friends. Apply to 
the publishers, 369, Euston Road, London, N.W. 
A specimen copy of the Naturalists’ Journal will be for¬ 
warded post free from the office on receipt of three halfpenny 
stamps. 
