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Next (End of each leg-wire)

the end of each leg-wire was pushed through the thickened end of its respective femur and filed off; and these irons, when bent at proper angles, severally formed the central axis and support of each tibio-tarsus, the inside half of which was first fixed in position and secured, and then the outer one. In the hollows of the thighs between the legs and the body was wedged glued tow, also well packed round about the irons, especially at their extremities. The model, now complete, received a coat or two of turpentine and flake-white and allowed to dry. was Lastly, the skin, which during all the preceding processes had dried as hard as a board, was soaked in warm water, often changed, for two or three days, and was then scraped throughout to remove all fat and the hard inner layer of skin, until after some time it became as pliable as a glove.

The feathers, cleaned somewhat by the soaking, were wiped down with benzoline and plaster thrown on to clean and dry them still further. This done, all imperfect parts, or those not of a good shape, were modelled over with pipe-clay, worked very smooth with paste, and retained in position on the model by means of cap-paper" pasted over all. The skull, still attached to the skin, was modelled up and placed upon the neck of the model, the skin of the neck being gradually drawn over it, and the remainder drawn over the model, one leg, the right, being further split for that purpose.

The skin of the wings, legs, and body having been pulled into position and nicely adjusted, was carefully sewn together with skinneedles and strong thread. Then followed the adjusting of the face and eyes, and, more difficult still, the bringing together of the edges of the cut skin of the femur and 66 reconciling it by means of a wax composition with the scutes of the tibio-tarsal joint.