File:The naturalist's manual - containing descriptions of the nests and eggs of North American birds. (Turididae-Tanagridae.) Also instructions for collecting and preserving birds, nests, eggs and insects (14748877091).jpg

Identifier: naturalistsmanua00davi (find matches)
Title: The naturalist's manual : containing descriptions of the nests and eggs of North American birds. (Turididae-Tanagridae.) Also instructions for collecting and preserving birds, nests, eggs & insects
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors: Davie, Oliver
Subjects: Birds Birds Taxidermy
Publisher: Columbus, Ohio : Columbus Printing Works
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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art of the tail into the body, and then bent inthe shape of a letter T for the tail to rest on. The bird now being sewed up and the tail-feathers arranged,straighten the legs parallel with the sides and bend them in a nat-ural position Now smooth the plumage and fasten the bird to atemporary perch or stand. Take hold of the wire that supportsthe head and neck and bend it back, giving the proper positionto the head. It will now be seen that by this method, where theballs of tozv are used in filling the neck, in place of a stiff, solidneck, usually made by the old methods, the neck can be lenght-ened or shortened as may be desired by taking hold of the headand sliding it up or down on the wire until the neck is of theproper length. After arranging the position of the bird, the throat should benicely filled out with cotton. Be very particular about this in allbirds, for they will look gaunt and hungry if the throats remainwithout filling. The eyes should now be set by placing a small io8
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MOUNTING BIRDS WITH CLOSED WINGS. 109 amount of soft putty over the cotton in the sockets ; apply mucil-age to the inside of the eye-lids and press the artificial eyes in po ■sition. Adjust the eye-lids in their place by picking them outover the artificial eyes vi^ith a pin. Great care should be taken toset the eyes as naturally as possible, as it is one of the princi-pal points which adds to the life-like appearance of mountedbirds.

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