206 TAXIDERMY AND ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



The tongue of a saurian is not free, but the skin may be re- 

 moved from its upper surface, the flesh replaced with clay, and 

 the skin sewed down again. The color of the tongue and roof 

 of the mouth of a saurian is pale yellow, a little lighter than 

 Naples yellow, but never pink. In young specimens the inside 

 of the mouth is white. 



Bear in mind this fact, that the eye of an alligator or crocodile 

 is of a dark greenish color, and the pupil is vertical. 



The thin serrated scales, which form the crest of the tail, must 

 be clamped firmly between thick pieces of card-board while they 

 are drying, so that they will retain their proper shape and 

 erectness, for otherwise they will curl up and become very un- 

 sightly. 



After a saurian has dried properly, and has been " mached," it 

 should be varnished all over with a coat of white varnish and 

 turpentine, to bring out the colors. 



If the teeth of an alligator need to be cleaned and whitened, 

 brush them with muriatic acid, washing it off again almost im- 

 mediately with plenty of clear water. 



CHELONIA : The Turtles. This group embraces the sea-turtles, 

 having the fore limbs developed as long, flat, triangular flippers, 

 with large head, small under shell, and with head and flippers 

 non-retractile, the terrapins, soft-shelled turtles, and tortoises. 

 Of the large, sea-going species, our ocean waters produce the 

 huge leather-back or harp-turtle, the loggerhead, next in size, 

 the green turtle and the hawksbill, which last yields the valu- 

 able tortoise-shell of commerce. To the taxidermist, a fresh 

 hawksbill to be mounted is a thing of beauty and a joy forever; 

 the smooth and succulent green turtle is also a welcome guest ; 

 the big loggerhead is a serious affair, and the huge, lumbering, 

 greasy 800-pound leather-back is a first class calamity. Shun 

 him, unless there is plenty of money behind him. I once had 

 the misfortune to be chief mourner over a leather-back which 

 pulled down 940 pounds dead weight mostly oil. 



"We conquered, but Bozzaris fell," 



vowing that neither gold nor glory (neither of which is yielded 

 by Sphargis coriacea) should ever again tempt us to " strike oil " 

 in that manner. The soft and gelatinous shell of that monster 



