26 Handbook of Taxidermy. 



make a little groove with the file in the table, 

 lay the end of the wire in this, and holding it in 

 the left hand, place the forefinger near the end, 

 and seizing the file in the right hand slowly 

 sharpen, revolving the wire at the same time 

 with the left. This will seem a little awkward 

 at first, but you will soon become accustomed to 

 it. Now take a piece of sand-paper and polish 

 the wires. 



Take the longest of the three wires, and bend 

 the unsharpened end into an oblong ring — in 

 length according: to the size of the bird to be 

 mounted. Or, instead of the ring, you may 

 make a little oval block of wood, secure the head 

 wire to one end, and bore holes for the leg wires, 

 which must be firmly fastened. For 'this Blue 

 Jay we will make it about one inch in length. 

 Now around this ring or block as a nucleus^ or 

 foundation, place, the tow and wind it on with 

 thread or string, continually putting on more 

 tow until you have an egg-shaped form (B). 

 Wind around and then lengthways to accomplish 

 this. For birds larger than a canary, the body 

 may be made of hay or excelsior, and finished 



