Whittling Polly will be much easier than coloring it. The bird will have to be mounted on a base or used in a flowerpot as a plant brace. The feet have four toes, two forward and two backward, but only the front toes will show on this figure.

Use a block of wood 1 3/4 inches by 3 1/2 inches by 9 inches, grain vertical. Color brightly and coat with shellac or varnish for gloss finish.

Figure 88

Figure 89

(1) Place pattern on wooden block. Trace and cut out. Figure 87.

(2) The tricky part of carving starts at the feet. See arrow, Figure 88. Small circle of perch is extreme width of block, 1 3/4 inches.

(3) Cut into perch to form toes of bird. Figure 89.

(4) Move to back. Cut wings as shown in Figure 90. Width across wing tip points, 1 inch. Cut tail veins as shown in Figure 90.

(5) Round out body and cut into head and beak. For general shape see Figure 91.

(6) Mount on base as shown in Figure 92.

(7) Paint bird and perch with bright colors. See color chart, Figure 93.

(8) After bird is dry (one week or longer with oil paints), finish as desired with shellac or varnish.

Figure 90

Figure 91

Figure 93