50 THE NATURALIST'S GUIDE. 



ing the skin even to the tip of the phalanges of the wings ^ 

 then tie the wing-bones together, as explained in birds. 

 Place the bat upon a flat board to dry, and pin its wings. 

 in the proper position for flight. When dry, stitch it upon 

 a piece of card-board. 



While skinning mammals, it is sometimes necessary to 

 use plaster to absorb the blood and other juices that are 

 apt to flow ; but if care is taken not to cut the inner skin, 

 over the abdomen it will not be needed. It is also some- 

 times necessary to plug the mouth and nostrils, especially 

 if blood flows from them. 



SECTION III. Mounting Mammals. The art of mount- 

 ing mammals in lifelike attitudes can only be acquired by 

 experience. Hence the learner must practise the utmost 

 degree of patience and perseverance. As in the first 

 chapter I earnestly advised those who would be perfect to 

 study nature, I would here repeat that advice. And if 

 necessary while endeavoring to mount a bird, where the 

 feathers cover the minor defects, it is essentially much 

 more of a necessity to study nature carefully while striv- 

 ing to imitate the graceful attitudes and delicately formed 

 limbs of the smaller species of mammalia, or the full 

 rounded muscles and imposing attitudes of the larger 

 ones ; for in mammals the thin coat of hair will tend rather 

 to expose than hide the most minute imperfections. 



Perfectly stuffed specimens can only be obtained by care- 

 ful measurements of all the parts, such as the size of the 

 legs, body, etc. 



In skinning mammals to mount, it is best not to remove 

 the skull. Open it on the occipital bone, so as to remove 

 the brains ; clean well ; cover with arsenic ; then supply 

 the muscles removed, by using hemp wound tightly on 

 with thread. As the skin will shrink badly if it is stuffed 

 loosely, carefully fill out the space occupied by the mus- 

 cles of the legs in the same manner. Cut wires for the 



