MR. BULLOCK’S METHOD OF STUFFING BIRDS.
Mr. Bullock, of the London Museum, Egyptian Hall, had another method of arranging the wires, which, after what we have already said, will be easily comprehended by a reference to figure 8, where we have given a figure of his mode. After the skin is taken off and prepared, different-sized, nealed, iron wires are procured, according to the size of the bird they are to support. The skin is laid on its back without stretching it; cut two pieces of wire, the one rather longer than the bird and the other shorter, so as not to reach to the head of the bird; twist them together, sharpen the ends of the longer by means of a file, and pass one end through the rump and the other through the crown of the head, near the base of the bill. Care must be taken not to extend the neck beyond its ordinary length—a very common fault in most preservers. Lay a little tow along the back of the skin for the wire to rest on, then take two other pieces of strong wire and file them to a point at one end; these are passed through the soles of the feet and up the center of the leg-bone, or tarsus. When within the body, they are to be fastened to the first wires by twisting them together, which, when accomplished, may be supposed to represent the backbone. The wire should be left two or three inches out of the soles of the feet, to fasten them in a standing position, as before directed. Two smaller wires are then passed through the wings, as in the legs, and afterwards fastened to the back-wires a little higher up than the leg-wires, taking care that no part of the skin is to be extended beyond its natural position.
Fig. 8.
Mr. Bullock’s method of inserting the wires in setting up a bird.