106 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



manner as tlie birds are mounted in tlie British Musenm-^ 

 namely, on turned stands as perches; or, as is usual now, to 

 form a unit of a characteristic group mounted in a more artistic 

 manner in a shade or a case. 



For the purpose of this lesson I have " relaxed " the original 

 starling we before made into a skin, and shall now mount it, 

 keeping to one bird, so as not to confuse the learner. . 



In "setting up" a bird wc require to use wires. The sizes 

 of wires are detennined by gauges. Thus the smallest sized 

 wire made is that known as Gauge 28. This and the two 

 following numbers, 26 and 27, are only required for the humming 

 birds ; 28 is, however, a good size for the least. 24 will be found 

 a good size for the smaller kinds of warblers and finches up to 

 canaries. 21 is a useful general size for a great number of 

 small birds, and will do for such a bird as the hawfinch. 19 is 

 a good size for thnishes and starlings, and will also do very 

 well for squirrels. 16 is a good useful size for many things 

 — will do for such birds as the landrail or pigeons. 13 is 

 a good size for such birds as parrots, and that or the next 

 largest size will do for owls. 12 will do for the larger hawks, 

 such as the peregrine falcon, &c., and for small dogs. 9 is more 

 suitable for foxes and larger dogs. 7 will do for eagles. 5, 3, 

 and 1 approach so nearly to bars as to be fit only for the larger 

 animals. 



As a rule, however, practice enables a person to use smaller 

 sized wires than appears possible to him at first. I would here 

 also recommend that " galvanised " be used instead of the 

 common "annealed" wire (never use "hard" wire) for all pur- 

 poses, excepting for large animals. Its advantages are very 

 great, as I can personally testify. 



If you decide on mounting your bird on a turned stand, you 

 will, if not possessing a lathe yourself, have to call in the 

 assistance of a turner, who will, for a small sum, turn the requisite 

 stands, which may be either in mahogany, boxwood, ebony, or 

 ivory, according to your taste and the length of your pocket. 

 If, on the contrary, you decide to ultimately mount your speci- 

 men in a case or a shade, you had better provide yourself with 

 some wire of a suitable strength, and some tow, which latter 

 you will proceed to wi-ap round the \vdre to within a couple of 



