CHAPTEK XVin. 

 FINISHING MOUNTED MAMMALS. 



DRYING AND SHRINKING. After the actual mounting 1 of a mam- 

 mal is finished, the specimen should be put aside in a separate 

 room, away from the dust, and allowed to stand for from three 

 or four weeks to three or four months, according to its size. It 

 must have time to dry thoroughly, and shrink as much as it 

 will. Every specimen is bound to shrink in drying, and it is 

 better for this to occur before it leaves the workroom, and be- 

 fore the finishing touches are put on, rather than after it goes 

 on exhibition, and is practically beyond your reach. 



In shrinking, all the seams open, more or less ; the eyelids 

 draw away a trifle from the glass eye; usually the lips open 

 somewhat ; and in ruminants the inner skin of the ear often 

 draws straight across the inside. 



CLEANING UP A SPECIMEN. In finishing a specimen, the first 

 thing is to dig the clay and tow out of all open seams, cracks, 

 and small holes, preparatory to filling them with papier-mache. 

 With the sharp point of a pointed bone-scraper, dig out the 

 clayy or whatever filling material is in sight, very thoroughly, 

 so as to give the papier-mache a chance to enter deeply and 

 catch firmly underneath the edges of the skin. With a stiff 

 brush, brush out the seams and openings, so that no clay-dust 

 remains, for there is nothing so good as clay-dust to prevent 

 papier-mache from sticking to a skin. It is often well to use a 

 bellows in getting dirt out of holes and seams. 



Beat the dust out of the hair, or blow it out with the hand 

 bellows, or brush it out, or wash it out if necessary, any way to 

 get it out. If the hair has been poisoned with arsenic water, 

 do as little to it as possible in getting out the accumulated 

 dust, for too vigorous treatment will bring out the arsenic with 

 the dust, and send it into your lungs. 



