374 PREPARATION OF BIRD SPECIMENS 



good taxidermist, but it is better for the student to see this 

 work after he has made a few independent attempts. In 

 any case, the first attempt is certain to be a total failure, 

 and if the first ten are far from successful, it is no cause for 

 discouragement. 



It is unfortunate that, although one starts with a thing of 

 beauty, from the moment the mounting operation begins (even 

 if performed by a master), through hours of Labor, the speci- 

 men looks worse and worse, and less and less like a bird, until 

 just before it is finished. The last five minutes' work once 

 more makes it look alive and beautiful. This is apt to have a 

 discouraging effect upon a student, and the "thing" is often 

 thrown away before the last five minutes of restorative work 

 can accomplish their mission. 



The more beautiful the bird taken, the more regret is felt at 

 the loss of the specimen ; so the score or more used in first 

 attempts should be birds of no importance, and, if possible, 

 birds whose number needs to be lessened. It is almost univer- 

 sally agreed that the English sparrow belongs to this group, 

 and so the learner should make use of it until success is 

 assured, until at least a half dozen good mounts in different 

 positions have been prepared. This will require a dozen or 

 more specimens, according to the ability of the student. The 

 general directions in this chapter refer to the English sparrow. 



Killing the Bird. — Have the specimen killed with "dust" 

 or " No. 12 " shot. The dust is smaller and better than No. 12, 

 but cannot always be purchased. Either of these makes such 

 small holes in the skin that there is rarely enough bleeding to 

 injure the plumage. As soon as the bird is shot, the mouth, 

 the nostrils, the vent, and the bleeding shot holes, if there are 

 any, should be plugged with a little cotton and the specimen 

 carefully wrapped in a piece of paper. If a piece of paper is 

 twisted into a cornucopia and the bird slipped into it head 

 first, there will be no danger of ruffling the plumage. 



Instruments. — Sharp pocket knife, scissors, pair of pincers 

 with a wire-cutting attachment, pair of tweezers, flat file, brad 



