COLOURING BILLS AND LEGS OF BIRDS 209 



Take notice in all cases, whether in a " skin " or in a newly- 

 skinned bird, that the removal of the fat and grease is much 

 accelerated if plaster be thrown on and removed from time to 

 time. 



The colouring of the bills and legs of birds is seldom well 

 done, the colour used being often some crude paint which fills 

 up all detail and shows what it is at once ; or, if there is any 

 approach to the original hues, there is a distinctly shiny or var- 

 nished appearance which is most objectionable. As there is 

 not a large surface to be covered, artists' tube oil-colours will 

 be found the most suitable, and they may be thinned upon the 

 palette with turpentine, which often gives a sufficient gloss, but 

 the turpentine and varnish formula (No. 84) will do still better, 

 and gives just enough " quality " to be natural. It must not be 

 supposed that any given bill or leg is of one uniform hue ; close 

 inspection will reveal many gradations, and it is only necessary 

 to observe the colours of these parts in a bird of any size to 

 prove the truth of this assertion. 



The really troublesome matter to be grappled with is the 

 fact, that not only do the bills and legs lose their characteristic 

 hues after death, but that they shrink very considerably, and 

 that is the only thing which prevents a properly-mounted bird 

 from looking natural. Bills, especially of such birds as snipes, 

 shrink in some degree, but not nearly so much as do the legs 

 of all birds. There is no way of arresting it, save for a short 

 time by glycerin, and therefore such parts must be made up. 

 Young birds which have a full and fleshy base to their gape, 

 of various tints of yellow, lose this soon after they are set 

 up, when it shrivels to a thin leathery-brown or whitish-yellow 

 hue. This must be made up, and the appearance and colour 

 restored. 



Notes should have been previously taken of the colours in 

 the living or recently-dead specimen, and sometimes it may be 



14 



