to and run cord through neck from back
to front so it will protrude between jaws when they are set (see Fig.
7).

[Illustration: Fig. 7.]

Let long end of cord hang free so that it may be passed through the
mouth when skull is set on neck-wire. With this done, lay aside the
body.

[Illustration: Fig. 8.]

The next step is wiring the wings and legs and substituting muscles of
same. To place a wing-wire draw the wing inside out. Take wing bone in
left hand. Place point of wire under small tendon that draws across back
of elbow joint, push through and up to wrist. Turn wing right side out
and by parting feathers on under side of wrist, locate two points of
bone at joint which have a cord or tendon drawn across between them.
Work the wire through under this.

The simplest way to anchor tip of wing-wire is to push it outside skin
just forward of wrist, turn a short right angle bend near its tip with
pliers and carrying it forward, push the point through a hollow pan
which will be found in the hand bones (see Fig. 8).

After a wing-wire is set, wrap cotton, tow, or excelsior about the upper
arm-bone to approximate shape and size of flesh removed. Wrap slightly
with thread or cord and tie.

In a small bird in which the forearm was skinned out from the inside,
slip in a film of cotton or tow to replace flesh of same. In a large
bird in which the wing was opened along forearm and hand, lay in a soft
filling after skin is in place on artificial body and sewn up. Sew wing
incision carefully, beginning at body and keeping feathers out of
stitch.

To place the leg-wires, start sharpened end into ball of foot, push wire
upward through back of leg to hock or heel joint. Take leg in left hand,
keeping heel straight, and push wire through at back of joint. A little
turning of the wire will aid in passing through leg easily.

Now turn leg inside out and push wire to just beyond end of shin bone
(see Fig. 9). Slip wire rapidly back and forth in leg to make it run
easily. There should be no kinks in wires.

[Illustration: Fig. 9.]

Hold wire down to back of bone and wrap on cotton, tow, or excelsior,
according to size of bird, to replace flesh. Tie this material loosely
with a few turns of thread or cord. See that wing and leg wrapping is
smooth and nicely tapering from elbow and heel.

It now remains to place the body, set wings and legs and tail, sew up
the breast incision, and, if a large bird, the wings.

In preparin