With the skin preparation completed, construction of an artificial body is the next step. In all bird work, upholstery excelsior or "wood wool" will be found most satisfactory for body making and neck, wing, and leg wrapping. This may be found at almost any upholstery shop, as is also tow, a fine grade of which is needed in making bird necks, as chopped, soft filling, etc.
A good grade of long-fiber cotton is needed for wrapping skulls and wing and leg bones in small birds, etc.
Various sizes of strong thread, both black and white, and some small, strong, ball twine will be needed for wrapping and sewing.
When making the artificial body, lay the outline sketches before you and copy Nature's lines throughout the work of assembling the specimen.
To make a firm core for the body, take a thick wisp of excelsior twice the length of the natural body and small or large according to specimen. Hold this tightly in the left hand, wrapping it very hard with thread or cord. Wrap the squeezed excelsior where it protrudes from between thumb and forefinger of left hand, drawing cord tight at each round, paying out the wisp until all is wrapped hard (see [Fig. 3]).
Fig. 3.
Now double this "stick" of excelsior in the middle and bind it together tightly. This forms a solid core the length of the body.
The body is finished around this base by firmly binding upon it wisps or handfuls of loose excelsior until the shape of the natural body is approximated. To be correct this form should appear oval from side view and pear-shaped from end view (see [Fig. 4]).