MOUNTING BIRDS WITH CLOSED WINGS. I05 



neck on the natiwal body of the bird. Do not make the balls hard. 

 Place these tow-balls in rotation in the neck until it is entirely fill- 

 ed. This can be easily done by the aid of forceps. In birds the 

 size of the Robin it requires about four bails or rolls of tow to equal 

 the length of the natural neck, as in A, Fig, 2. The number how- 

 ever, must ahvays be governed according to the length of the bird's 

 neck. Now sharpen three pieces oi annealed vi'ne^ two for the legs 

 and one with which to make the artificial body. A long piece of 

 wire should be straightened by placing one end in a vise and pull- 

 ing steadily at the other; when this is done it can then be cut in 

 pieces. The leg wires should be thick enough to support the bird 

 when mounted, and should be about double the length of the 

 legs. 



The sharpened wires should be forced through the sole of the 

 foot, through the tarsus and along the leg bone. 



The leg bone should be fastened to the wire by a wrapping of 

 tow, making the leg a trifle smaller than it naturally was Pro- 

 ceed in the same manner with the other leg and the skin is ready 

 for the reception of the artificicl body Take the third wire, 

 which should be about twice the length of the leg wires, place it 

 along the back of the natural body of the bird with the sharp- 

 ened end extending out over the length of the neck ; now bend 

 this wire around the natural body length-wise, bring it up in front 

 and clinch it as in Fig 2. To clinch the wire securely it should 

 be hammered on a solid surface, but if it is thin can be pinched 

 with plyers, so that it will hold fast. You will now have the ex- 

 act shape and length of the natural body or trunk of the bird as 

 represented in Figs. I and 2. 



Natural Body or Trunk of a Bird. 



