Guide to Taxidermy 



69 



a feather duster, always stroking in the direction 

 of the feathers, will make your specimens ready 

 to put on its permanent mount. 



Right here let me beg you, no matter how poor 

 or indifferent your first attempt may be, not to 

 throw it away but keep it for a guide in mounting 

 the next one. You can see wherein 3'our fault lies 

 and correct it in subsequent mounts. 



Making T Perches 



A T perch is composed of but three pieces ; a 

 square base, a round upright set into it and a hori- 

 zontal crosspiece on the upright. These stands can 

 be very neatly made and are commonly used for 

 museum specimens. 



For sparrows and birds of like size, make the 

 base of half inch pine, 2 1-2 in. square, with the 

 upper edges chambered or cut off, and a 3-8 in. 

 hole in the middle extending nearly but not quite 

 through; the upright and cross pieces should each 

 be 2 in. long, of 3-8 in. doweling or of pine whittled 

 down to that size. The top end of the upright is 

 hollowed out to receive the cross piece. Put a touch 

 of glue on the bottom of the upright, thrust it in 

 hole in square block; another dab of glue on hollow 

 of upright and put cross piece on, fastening it with 

 a brad driven into the upright. These stands can 



