42 
SOC. OF AM. TAXIDERMISTS, ANNUAL REPORT. 
togetliOT, or it will be necessary to apply too iniicli pressure of 
the thread to bring tbein down smoothly, and an unexpected evil 
will arise when tlie bird is hnished and the tlireads and wires are 
cut off, viz. the crowded tufts of feathers will, immediately in 
some cases, or in others soon after, spring np out of jilace. 
The secret in making a smooth bird lies in this fact, viz ; that the 
root of EVERY feather must have a cushion to lie against inside 
the skin, which is procured by an even filling. Then when the 
thread is brought to bear on the feathers they muII be influenced 
at tbe base or root, and when the skin dries it will hold them in 
place. This is why the short stubby tufts over the wings are so 
difficult to bring down smoothly. They can not be stuffed out, 
for they have an extra curve and are made to round out over the 
shoulder of the wing. 
It is noM'' necessary to go back, and state how, and of what, I 
make my bodies. I prefer above all, a solid body, one not too 
hard, made of “ excelsior.” This material is simply wood fiber, 
and is made by a machine invented for the purpose, and can be 
bought for a few cents per pound. The fiber varies somevdiat 
in quality. For small birds a very coarse tow is best ; the small 
pins or wires pass readily through the feathers and skin and enter 
the bod}^, and as many can be stuck into the bird as is necessary 
to hold the thread for binding or winding the bird. The num- 
ber of hook-Mures vary according to the size of the bird, and the 
stnliboiTiess or stiffness of the feathers. The usual number em- 
ployed to enable one to properly wind a bird is from five to eight, 
and are of the following shape (see Plate II, fig. 5) and vary in 
length. These hook- wires are easily made as follows: Having 
filed to a SHARP point six wires, take a pair of round pliers, place 
the several wires side by side in the jaws and with two movements 
the wires can be shaped as shown, all alike and with the same 
curves. For birds below the size of a Golden-winged Wood- 
pecker, strong insect or common pins will answer. The office 
of the hook-wire is to keep the thread away from the feathers 
when no pressure is required to bring them in their proper place. 
To make the pins efficient as an agent I emplo}^ this simple device : 
take a few inches of thread, wax it, and after the pins are stuck 
in their proper places (which will be spoken of later on) take the 
thread and by making one loop around the pin (see plate, fig. 4) 
draw it tightly and cut the ends off. The waxed thread will 
