ans to stay on it. Two or three wires like those used on the wings
hold the tail in place by being driven through the base of it into the
body for half their length.

Fix the head looking down rather than up and to one side rather than
straight ahead. If you have the proper glass eyes at hand they can be
set now, if not, later will do but the lids are relaxed just now to
receive them. Fill the back of the sockets with tow or cotton and with a
little spoon-shaped modeling tool give this and the inner surface of the
lids a good coating of soft clay. The eyes, cut from the wire stem on
which most of them come, are pressed into this and the skin worked into
place with the point of a big needle or a small awl.

Now give the plumage a general going over, re-pin the wings if
necessary, and wind down any obstreperous feathers with thread. A number
of pins or wires thrust in the middle of back and breast will help this
operation.

Starting at the head wind back to the tail, lacing the thread from pin
to pin, not binding tightly with any one thread but producing a smooth
surface by holding it down at a multiplicity of points. There are a
number of so-called systems for winding birds but the same taxidermist
seldom winds two alike as the needs of the case are sure to differ. To
spread the tails of small birds, spread the feathers as desired and pin
them between two strips of light cardboard. When dry they will retain
their position. If all arranged properly set the bird away to dry; two
weeks will be sufficient for this.

[Illustration: BIRD WOUND WITH THREAD.]

Any colors on bill or feet and legs should be renewed with oil colors as
they fade almost entirely; if of a dark or neutral color originally, a
coating of transparent varnish will do. There is a variety of beetle
which delights in dining on such hard parts of mounted birds if not
protected by paint or varnish.

Place the bird on its final mount and fasten the leg wires in grooves
cut in the under side of same so they are flush with surface. The ends
may be turned over and driven in again or held fast by small staples. If
on the under side of a limb or branch a pinch of moss or lichen glued on
will cover this fastening.

Cut away the binding threads and with cutting pliers cut off all
projecting pins and wires, leaving what part of them is covered by the
feathers. Brush any clay from the eyes and if the lids have shrunken
away from them as they do usually, coat a bi