MOUNTING BIRDS. 6$ 



tough grass which grows in shady places, in sandy 

 soil, is preferable, by winding with thread, moulding 

 it so as to have it quite solid, shaping it in the 

 hands until it assumes the exact length and 

 breadth of the body removed, and as near its form 

 as possible. Thus see that the back is fuller 

 than the under side, and that there' is a well- 

 defined breast. Great care should be taken not to 

 get this body larger than the natural one ; if 

 anything it should be smaller. With the pliers 

 cut a piece of wire of the proper size, that is, of 

 about half the diameter of the bird's tarsus, and 

 about three times the length of the body. In 

 cutting all wires which are to be sharpened, the 

 cut should be made diagonally across it, thus 

 forming a point. Push this wire through the 

 body so that it will emerge in . the front much 

 nearer the back than the breast, protruding so 

 that it equals the length of the neck and tongue 

 of body removed. Bend over the end remain- 

 ing at the back, turn down about half of it and 

 force it into the body (Fig. 13, c). This will hold 

 firmly if the body has been made sufficiently solid. 

 Wrap the wire with cotton by taking a strip and 

 winding it gradually so that it assumes a taper- 

 ing form with a portion of the wire protruding. 



