MOUNTING LARGE BIRDS.
The same principles employed in the manipulation of smaller species
apply to this class with but a few variations. On account of their size
and weight the artificial bodies need to be especially firm in order to
afford a secure anchorage for the wing and leg wires. Also these
supports should be fastened to the bones in several places with stout
cord or small wire, as wrapping with the tow and thread used on small
birds is hardly sufficient.
What I would class as being large birds are the larger hawks, owls,
herons, eagles, geese, etc. The several varieties of the ostrich are
known as colossal birds and are skinned and preserved much as the large
quadrupeds by mounting the prepared skin on a manikin, built in the pose
of the finished specimen and supported by heavy iron rods.
[Illustration: BIRD OF PREY--LIMB POSITION.]
In mounting eagles or similar birds with wings spread, which seems to be
a popular attitude, use the largest wires possible as anything less than
that will, on account of their size and wide extent, tend to a drooping,
back-boneless appearance entirely out of keeping.
It goes without saying that large birds do not require the delicate
handling of small ones, but by way of compensation considerable force is
needed.
[Illustration: SPREADING TAIL OF LARGE BIRDS.
Run a small sharp wire through the quills on under side of tail to
spread it.]
The combs and wattles of domestic and wild fowls cannot by any common
process be prevented from shriveling and discoloring while drying, but
when dry they may be restored by careful modeling in colored wax. This
is applied warm with a brush and given its final finish with hot metal
modeling tools. For museum work and other high grade work such heads are
cast entire in wax in such a way that all feathers and hair are attached
in their precise places.
Large water fowl are often mounted as flying, and suspended by a very
fine wire. A sharpened wire with a ring turned in one end, thrust into
the middle of the back and clinched in the body, forms a secure point of
suspension.
As it is not usually practicable to case many specimens of large birds,
give them an extra thorough poisoning and when entirely finished spray
with either corrosive sublimate or arsenical solution.
In making bodies for large birds it is well to use excelsior for the
main bulk of the body, merely covering the outside with a thin layer of
tow. This is not only more economical but makes a lighter specimen than
one filled with tow entirely. Excelsior or wood wool is to be had in
varying degrees of fineness of upholstery dealers.
[Illustration: SPREAD EAGLE. WINGS BRACED UP TO DRY.]
In the case of a bird which has been wired and sewn up seeming to
require further filling out, it can be accomplished in most cases by
making an incision under each wing and introducing some flakes of tow
with a wire stuffing tool. If the bird is mounted with closed wings this
slit need not even be sewed up as the folded wing covers it completely.