w but little externally, the elbow and
knee joints nestling close to the body among the feathers.

So when fastening the legs to the body let the wires enter where the
knee would lie and push the wire through obliquely, upward and forward,
pushing and drawing them through the artificial and natural leg until
the lower ends approach the feet. Grasping the sharpened ends of the leg
wires at the middle of the length projecting from the body, with round
nose pliers bend them over in a hair pin shape.

[Illustration: BIRD WIRED.]

Work this loop back through the body pulling back through the leg and
clinch the points over into the body again. If the body was firmly made
as it should be, this fixes the legs permanently to it, yet they may be
bent readily at the joints to suit various attitudes.

Adjust the skin now and fill out at shoulders, thighs, and base of tail
with some chopped tow. The breast also may need some filling. Sew up the
skin beginning at the breast and finishing at the base of tail, lacing
it together with the ball cover stitch.

The pose of the finished specimen you have probably decided on before
now so it only remains to put it in the desired attitude. This sounds
easy, like sculpture, "just knock off what stone you don't need and
there is the statue," but it may try your soul at length to obtain the
desired effect. Good pictures are a great help here, as of course a
living duplicate would be if you had it.

Before setting it on its feet, coax the wings into place as you hold the
bird in your hand and pin them to the body through the elbow and outer
joint of the wing, using several pins 2 to 4 in. long or pieces of
sharpened wire the same size. This will hold the wings out of the way
and they may be changed and fitted perfectly later.

Mounted birds are usually put on temporary stands of rough boards or
limbs and when fully dried out transferred to a permanent mount which
can be prepared in the meantime of the exact size and variety wished
for. On these temporary stands the leg wires are only twisted together
so they can be easily removed. Place the feet in natural positions of
standing, walking or running and arrange the toes correctly. They had
best have some pins driven in beside the toes to secure them till dry,
as badly shaped feet will spoil the effect of an otherwise fine piece of
work, indicating a careless workman.

If on a bough or stump the feet should grasp it as if the bird really
me