22i 



Guide to Taxidermy 



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Mix a batch of papier-mache (see Chapter 10) 

 and squeeze it into the wire mesh leaving the out- 

 side rough or smooth as your subject may call for. 

 A stump should have a few knots and broken 

 branches fashioned on it with the papier-mache and 

 the whole exterior should be grooved to represent 

 the bark, this being done with a piece of wire or 

 wood. Rockwork may have fine granite or mica 

 sand sprinkled over it and lightly pushed into the 

 papier-mache or it may be painted to imitate rocks 

 after it is dry. A stump may be painted when dry 

 or it may have mosses and litchens glued to it. 



Artificial Trees and Branches. — We prefer to 

 use natural branches when they can be obtained of 

 the right shape for our needs, but it is often neces- 

 sary to build artificial ones, especially for decora- 

 tive purposes. A tree may be made for a single 

 bird, or as we have often done, it may be made to 

 fill a case six feet in height and to accommodate 

 several hundred birds. 



We will describe the making of a small branch 

 suitable for a single Bluejay. The sketches oppo- 

 site illustrate the method of making. Bore two 

 awl holes, 3-4 in. apart, in the middle of your 



