164 



TAXIDERMY AND ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



opening- should be cut lengthwise with the skull, and only just 

 large enough to receive the end of the board comfortably. In 



case it is desired to 



i 



have the head turned 

 to one side, looking 

 to the right or left, 

 the neck standard 

 must be fitted into 

 the skull accordingly. 

 An iron rod may be 

 used instead of a 

 wooden standard, if 

 the operator finds it 

 more convenient. 



2. Now place the 

 skull upside down on 

 the table, with the 

 forehead on a level 

 with the table - top, 

 and proceed to set 

 one end of the neck 

 standard in the skull. 

 This is done as fol- 

 lows : Into about a 

 quart of water, placed 

 in a basin or large 

 bowl, sprinkle the 

 plaster Paris, a hand- 

 ful at a time, until the 

 water is filled with it 

 and w T ill take up no 

 more. Then stir it 

 thoroughly with a 



spoon, and after placing the end of the neck standard in the 

 skull cavity in a perpendicular position, pour the plaster around 

 the end of it, filling the brain cavity, and piling it up on the 

 base of the skull in a copious mass, so that when it hardens the 

 board will be immovably fixed. The plaster should also fill 

 around the articulations of the lower jaw, to make that also a 



PIG. 37. Internal Mechanism of a Deer Head. 



