Published in 1860, Art Recreations offers itself as being a complete guide to all the womanly artistry including pencil drawing, oil and watercolour painting, moss work, papier mache, feather flowers, shell work, magic laterns, enamel painting, hair work, and - of course  - taxidermy.  The authors waste no time with pleasantries: the chapter begins bluntly: "Take out the entrails." 

The entire entry consists only of the above page and another paragraph which explains that after taking out the entrails, the "better way for very small birds to open a passage to the brain, which must be scooped out through the mouth."  The skull cavity and the whole body (that is, the little bird is not skinned) is then to be filled with a mixture of salt, pepper, and alum.  The bird is then to be hung in a cool, airy place first by the feet (so that the body may be impregnated with the salt) and then by a wire passed through the bird's beak until the bird "appears to be sweet," which I assume means until the bird no longer smells of decay.  Perhaps the common judgement of the dainty Victorian lady needs some readjustment.  

If you might be wondering what "hair work" involves, let me explain.  Simply put, hair work is the art of creating flowers and leaves from hair.  The authors claim that the hair must be "hair from the head of living person," which is the be plucked and brushed as smoothly as possible and tied in bunches. Then begins an explaination that I confess I can't really follow but it involves twisted wire, a bit of whalebone, and knitting needles and succeeds in the creation of forget-me-nots, roses (requiring much time and great care), daisies, leaves, and asters.  "Practice in this art," I am assured, "is of more value than precept.  The artist will find the difficulties gradually disappear as the work is persevered in, and to the study specimens of hair work, now so common, will assist the learner in many points."