126 METHODS IX THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 



that point. Observe how gracefully and symmetrically the legs of all 

 birds come from the body, and how beautiuilly the feathers form 

 around the thigh. Uo not allow the heels of your birds to be spread 

 as far apart as their feet. If your specimen is to assume a stepping or 

 running attitude, read carefully what has been said on this subject on 

 page 96, and study Figs. 4 and 5, Plate XV. How often do we see 

 the postures of mounted birds distorted — herons and rails stepping 

 off like ducks — sandpipers, snipe, tell-tail and plover, running or 

 stooping to drink and catching at aquatic insects in the most unnat- 

 ural postures, entirely contrary to the anatomy of the birds ; which, in 

 nature, when in motion, are so graceful, and which hold that marvelous 

 symmetry of outline so necessary to be attained before we can claim 

 any approach to perfection in our work. The directions for Moniitvig 

 Long-necked Birds, page 87, and illustrated in Plate XXII, will 

 guide you in obtaining the best results in the cranes and herons and 

 others of their character who walk by placing one foot in front of 

 another. The ducks and geese walk pigeon-toed — hence the wab- 

 bling motion in their gait. These are beautifully illustrated in various 

 figures of Plates XXIX, XXXI, XXXII, and XXXIII. The Canada 

 goose, for example, in Plate XXXII, shows very clearly the natural 

 position of the legs and feet in these birds and the gait they assume. 



It has been my habit to make actual drawings of the foot-prints 

 of sandpipers, plovers and other water birds which I happened to find 

 in the mud at the edge of ponds, etc. This is the best wav to obtain 

 the actual distance of their strides. 



In grouping and arranging a colleciion of mounted birds attention 

 should, in the first place, be paid to giving each specimen a character- 

 istic attitude, which will show to the best advantage some peculiarity 

 in the bird's external anatomy. Many of the beauties of a bird's 

 plumage are hidden when the wings are closed, as in the case of the male 

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, which has a belt of red extending across the 

 breast and wings, and which, when the wings are closed, leaves only the 

 rose color of the breast visible. If one goatsucker is mounted sitting 

 lengthwise on a branch, another should be arranged with outstretched 

 wings, mouth wide open in the act of catching an insect. One swallow- 

 tailed kite may be placed in a quiet attitude, while another should be 

 displayed in mid-air with a small reptile in its talons (Plate XXX\'II, 

 Fig. 3). The little wrens, chickadees, sparrows and finches, etc., 

 may be given innumerable characteristic attitudes, some of which are 

 figured in Plate XXXIX. There is no other class of birds which can 

 be mounted with better effect than the cranes, herons and ibises. 



