154 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



CHAPTER XXVIL 



MAKING CASES. 



A taxidermist, with but little effort and slight expense, 

 can frequently make his own cases, thereby escaping 

 any exorbitant charges of cabinet makers. Proportions 

 should vary in accordance with the inside arrangement. 

 For example, a case designed for grouse or any ground 

 birds should have ample depth to allow of a sufficient 

 surface of rocks. 



If a case is to contain both ground-birds and perchers, 

 it should be of medium depth, with a tree above the rock- 

 work. A high, shallow case is always pleasing, particu- 

 larly when standing alone. 



Basswood and white pine, well seasoned, or kiln dried, 

 make the best cases. They are usually trimmed with 

 black-walnut moldings of two sizes. Often times a light 

 inner molding of gilt will add to the appearance of 

 fancy cases for bright colored birds or butterflies. 



First construct the back of a case, and if two or more 

 boards are used, the joints should be neatly made with a 

 fore or levelling plane, and glued with the best material. 

 To do this, nail two strips of board parallel on a level 

 bench or board. Fasten the pieces of the back tightly 

 together between them with long wedges. In this man- 

 ner, good joints can be made with little trouble. When 

 dry, clean the front surface with a smoothing plane, and 

 dress well with fine sand-paper folded over a square block. 

 The top and bottom should be made of equal dimensions, 

 corresponding in length with the back of the case, be- 

 ing true to the square. They should be nailed in po- 

 sition on the back of the case, about the width of a mold- 

 ing from the ends. 



Two quadrant-shaped standard strips must be nailed 



