Guide to Taxidermy 



59 



The legs which are now sticking straight out, one 

 on either side of the body, are bent sharply upward 

 where the wires enter the body, until they become 

 parallel. 



Draw the edges of the breast cut together and 

 sew it with two stitches (for birds of the size of a 

 jay; larger ones should have more), each stitch be- 

 ing separate and tied of itself. 



Bend the legs sharply forward at the heel joint 

 so the feet will be under the breast and the bird 

 balanced in a perching position. 



Your specimen is now ready to place u])on its 

 stand, and we advise, especially at first, that you 

 mount all your birds on T perches. 



Bore two lioles in the cross piece about an inch 

 and a quarter apart (for a jay), using your 

 smallest awl. Set your bird on the stand by putting 

 one leg wire through each hole and drawing the 

 bird down until the sole rests on the stand. The 

 bird is now ready to be bent into a life-like posi- 

 tion. Of course its wings are not fastened yet and 

 are dangling about, but body, neck and legs are 

 bent in the proper places before the wings are 

 {jinned into position. Sketches on this page give a 

 immber of positions for the jay with the correct 

 placing of the wires, bending of the neck and legs 

 and tilting the tail for each position. Select the 



SeY(»v>^ wJp. 



