40 TI1& TAXIDERMIST'S GUIDE. 



tail until you feel that you have a pretty good hold. You may 

 then pass it carefully under the longest quill-feather, and 

 through the back of the case, and fasten it by bringing it back 

 again through and clinching it, concealing it so by the oblique 

 position of the bird that it is not detectable. It is obvious 

 that by passing the wire alongside the bone, you may 

 bend the wings to any angle you please. With regard to 

 the case there are two methods : one a bell-glass, which, glass 

 being now so reasonable, is certainly a very pretty and reason- 

 able way of mounting, but inapplicable to birds which are to be 

 placed on a wall, or to be represented flying ; although this may 

 . be managed by attaching one wire from the point of the wing to 

 a twig sufficiently firm, which it will scarcely appear to touch, if 

 managed adroitly. It is likewise indispensable that a bird for a 

 shade should be stuffed so well as to look nicely in all positions. 

 One thing must always be remembered, do not have your case a 

 shade too large, just clear the object so as not to stint it for room ; 

 and in flat cases this applies chiefly to depth, for it should have 

 sufficient light, or it will not look well. Wooden cases should be 

 made as slight (in thickness) as is consistent with firmness ; well- 

 seasoned white deal is best ; and the case should be formed of 

 back, top and bottom, open at the front and sides, and at each 

 corner of the front two slight deal supports, rabbited on their 

 inner edges, and presenting on the whole this appearance. 



Having the case prepared, it should be papered with ordinary 

 demy paper on the top and back within, and, when the paste is 

 dry, washed over carefully with size and whitening, tinted with a 

 little stone-blue ; some add some touches of white subsequently 

 to represent clouds, the ground representing the air ; some also 

 paste a landscape on the back, but this must be good, or }'ou had 

 better have plain color. The bird to be placed in this case is 

 either perching, standing, or flying. For the latter, directions 

 have been given. As to the two former, the perch must be firmly 

 fixed in the small piece of flat wood upon which it previously 

 stood, and put in upon it, the wood being fastened to the bottom 

 of the case, either by screwing from below, from above, or glu- 

 ing with stout glue, or by passing wire through two holes in the 

 bottom of the case and the wood, and clinching above. In this 

 case, or in screwing from below, let the wire or the screw into 



