MOUNTING IN GENERAL. 41 



the wood, and putty over, and so if the bird is represented stand- 

 ing. The bird being fixed, the next thing is the decorating or 

 " weeding," as it is technically called, and here we enter upon a 

 subject so entirely of taste and fancy, that no fixed rules, as to the 

 disposition, can in all cases be given. One rule applies equally 

 to this as to landscape painting, viz., that there should always be 

 a compensation of objects. That is, if you have a tuft of grass 

 on one side which rises towards the top of the case, there should 

 be something in the lower opposite corner to strike the eye, but 

 not to rise above midway up at farthest, and the ground, or floor, 

 should not be over-furnished with moss, &c. After the bird is 

 fixed, the whole bottom should be carefully glued over with thin 

 glue, taking care, where the bird's feet are on the bottom, not to 

 touch the toes with the glue. Some fine-sifted sand or gravel 

 should then be sifted over it, and it will adhere wherever the glue 

 has touched; for this purpose a small tin shovel is best, some- 

 thing in this form, and about two inches wide by four long, with 

 a handle in proportion, which can be made to order at any tin- 

 man's for a trifle. 



Everything used in " weeding" should be baked in a slow oven, 

 otherwise spider's eggs and minute creatures, which are pretty 

 sure to be contained in it, will make their appearance after the 

 case is closed in the disagreeable form of destroying your speci- 

 men. Moss, &c, by being slowly dried, will also keep its color 

 better. Yellow moss, found on the roofs of old barns, and dark 

 gray of the same species, are very generally useful; and where yel- 

 low moss cannot be had, the white or gray may be colored with 

 chrome, and looks as well. "Water plants fade, being more or less 

 succulent, and hence a little common water-color with gum will 

 be used with advantage and look less artificial than oil paint, 

 which is often used. Fern looks very pretty as an adjunct for 

 heath-birds, but it should be dried gradually and carefully,, when 

 quite full grown, and a small touch of light green, permanent 

 white forming a portion of it, will give it a freshness and more 

 natural appearance. Grass in seed (not in flower) of various kinds 

 is also a very pretty addition ; but bird preservers have a habit of 

 vising dyed grass, and yellow and red Xevantliymum, or Everlast- 

 ing, which is certainly to be avoided, and indeed anything which 

 is unnatural. If it is wished to introduce a lump of earth, or an 



