MOUNTING IN GENERAL. 45 



the tail ; the side pieces are next formed, so as to represent the 

 natural bulge of a bird's body, and attached to the rump ; the 

 piece representing the breast is then formed, joined at the rump, 

 and afterwards continued as long as the olher tail-pieces, to sup- 

 port the centre of the tail ; while at the front extremity a piece is 

 left, for the purpose of forming a neck to •which to attach the 

 head. Two leg-wires are attached to the siderwires, being rolled 

 round them for several turns, making a framework the shape of 

 the bird. 



After this body has been properly formed, it must be wrapped 

 round with tow-sliver, and the neck thickened to its required 

 dimensions. When this is accomplished, the head, legs, wings 

 and tail are softened in the usual manner ; the eyes are then fixed 

 in with some cotton introduced into the orbits, with a little of the 

 cement. The wings and tail are now placed on a table, with a 

 flat leaden weight above each, to restore them to their natural 

 shape. The leg-wires are then passed through the legs, com- 

 mencing at the top, and bringing them out at the soles of the feet, 

 and left with a piece extending beyond the claws. 



The tail is now fixed on, by first attaching to it a quantity of 

 cotton with the cement, and, when dry, it is fixed to the part in- 

 tended as the rump. 



The feet of the bird must be fixed into a piece of wood, as a 

 perch, the ends of which must be left some inches beyond the 

 body. The end next the tail is fixed into a table-vice, with the 

 belly upwards, and the head pointing towards the operator. The 

 feathers are now put on, commencing, under the tail, or crissum, 

 w ith what are termed the under-tail coverts ; a coating of cement 

 must be previously laid on, to attach the feathers with. It is 

 proceeded with upwards to the breast, and finally the length of 

 the neck, taking care to put the proper feathers on their respect- 

 ive sides, as the side-feathers "nave all an inclination to one side. 

 The bird is now turned with the back up, still keeping the head 

 towards the stuffer ; and the wings are fixed on with cement, and 

 pins forced through the beards of the feathers to conceal the 

 heads. When this is done, put on the feathers of the rump, and 

 proceed upwards, as has been done with the belly. After reach- 

 ing the top of the neck, the head is then fixed on with some cot- 

 ton immersed in the cement, and allowed to dry before attempt- 

 ing to put on the feathers 



