Guide to Taxidermy 91 



Unusual Forms for Skius 



These instructions as given apply to nearly all 

 the land, or perching birds, grouse, hawks, and 

 owls. Some birds, especially those with long necks 

 or legs require special treatment as to the best form 

 in which to leave the finished skin. Obviously it 

 would not do to make a Blue Heron skin with its 

 long neck stretching a couple of feet in front of 

 the body and the legs as much behind. This is over- 

 come by doubling the legs up against the breast and 

 folding the neck down over the back (after it has 

 been carefully and smoothly filled with cotton). 

 Some collectors fold the head and neck back under 

 the wing; this is all right, for compactness, when 

 the skin is to be mounted, but for cabinet specimens 

 they are far better with the head over the back, and 

 fastened by means of a string through the nostrils 

 passing through the body and tied to the legs. 



Most ducks make a neater skin, and one less lia- 

 ble to injury if the neck is folded over the back; 

 the same can be said of the larger sandpipers. 



Birds having a large and conspicuous crest, such 

 as cardinals, jays, pileated woodpeckers, trogons, 

 etc., should be made into skins with the head turned 

 on one side but with the bill pointing as nearly 

 straight forward as possible. 



