78 



Guide to Taxidermy 



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shape of the longitudinal cross section of his nat- 

 ural body. This must be strongly cleated and on 

 each side have a piece of 2x4 j oist about a foot 

 long firmly screwed. These are put on in the prop- 

 er place to receive the leg rods, and a hole just the 

 size of the leg rod bored down through the center 

 of each. For leg rods you will want half inch ma- 

 terial cut to just the length of his leg plus the 

 thickness of the base he is to stand upon. You will 

 want about three inches of each end of these rods 

 threaded to receive nuts. The neck rod should be 

 about 3-8 in. in diameter; both this and the leg rods 

 be bent at the proper places before fastening to the 

 body. The leg wires are fastened to the body by a 

 nut and washer both above and below the joist; 

 they are fastened to the base in the same manner. 

 The neck rod may be fastened to the frame by a 

 number of heavy staples driven through the board 

 and clinched. Sketch on preceding page shows 

 clearly the form of the rods and method of attach- 

 ment. The body is now shaped with excelsior, 

 wound very tightly to each side of the frame, and 

 the neck is smoothly wound with tow. It is well to 

 give both the body and neck a final coating of clay 



