MOUNTING BIRDS. 
65 
tough grass which grows in shady places, in sandy 
soil, is preferable, by winding with thread, moulding 
it so as to have it quite solid, shaping it in the 
hands until it assumes the exact length and 
breadth of the body removed, and as near its form 
as possible. Thus see that the back is fuller 
than the under side, and that there is a well- 
defined breast. Great care should be taken not to 
get this body larger than the natural one ; if 
anything it should be smaller. With the pliers 
cut a piece of wire of the proper size, that is, of 
about half the diameter of the bird’s tarsus, and 
about three times the length of the body. In 
cutting all wires which are to be sharpened, the 
cut should be made diagonally across it, thus 
forming a point. Push this wire through the 
body so that it will emerge in the front much 
nearer the back than the breast, protruding so 
that it equals the length of the neck and tongue 
of body removed. Bend over the end remain- 
ing at the back, turn down about half of it and 
force it into the body (Fig. 13, c). This will hold 
firmly if the body has been made sufficiently solid. 
Wjrap the wire with cotton by taking a strip and 
winding it gradually so that it assumes a taper- 
ing form with a portion of the wire protruding. 
