MOUNTING SPECIMENS ON SHIELDS. 113 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



MOUNTING SPECIMENS ON SHIELDS. 



To give variety in taxidermy, birds, and small ani- 

 mals, are often mounted as if just killed, and hung on 

 ornamental shields. I have mounted hundreds of game 

 birds in this manner, singly, in pairs, and in bunches. 

 The method is seemingly pleasing to most sportsmen. 



Game birds are usually placed in pairs of different spe- 

 cies ; for instance, a woodcock and snipe, a ruffed and 

 pinnated grouse, a mallard and black duck, or two teal of 

 different varieties. In preparing birds for shields, mount 

 them as described, and give them the desired positions. 

 Wires should be run through the shields and clinched in 

 the bodies of the specimens, to hold them in position. 



PATTERNS FOR SHIELDS. 



Dark-colored birds should be placed on light shields of 

 chestnut, maple, and ash. Birds of light color present 

 the best appearance on black walnut and stained shields. 



Game may be hung up by the leg or bill, with wings 

 closed, or with one or both wings hanging. The taxider- 

 mist will have to consider size, and exercise taste in ar- 

 rangement. 



The outlines of shields should be in harmony with the 

 specimens on them, and effectively carved. The above 

 are some of the patterns which I have made for gen- 

 eral use. 



