10 



Guide to Taxidermy 



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be made for any size of perching bird, varying only 

 the dimensions of the stock used. A stand for a 

 jay should be 3 in. square at the base and should 

 have a height of about 3 1-2 in. If these are only 

 for temporary stands they are now complete, but if 

 you wish them for display, give them a coat of 

 white lead and then varnish. Natural and artificial 

 stands and stumps are discussed and explained in 

 Chapter 12. 



Spreading a Birds Winds 



It is often desirable, especially in group work, to 

 have a bird's wings raised or spread; however, we 

 should never advise spreading a bird of any kind 

 unless you have a place to suspend it or it is going 

 into a case to form part of a group. Spread birds 

 are more easily damaged and are usually in the 

 way, unless, as we said, you have a suitable place in 

 which to suspend them. 



Birds to be spread are skinned exactly as before 

 described, except chat of course the wing bones are 

 all always left in, while a folded bird may often 

 have the arm bone taken out ; indeed, it is often ad- 

 visable to do this. The body is made the same and 

 wound as firmly as possible; the neck wired and 

 wound with cotton, and inserted in the bird. 



