GROUPS OF MAMMALS. 243 



In displaying a portion of a tree-trunk which contains a nest, 

 it has been our custom to saw out a rectangular section at one 

 side of the hollow, and hang the piece on hinges at one side of 

 the opening, like an open door, so that the entire interior and 

 the situation of the nest can be seen. Of course it is in order 

 to place a number of the young specimens in the nest in char- 

 acteristic attitudes. 



When you have collected a number of young specimens, 

 mount them at once while the forms and attitudes are fresh in 

 your mind and the skins are in good condition. If you are 

 lucky enough to get the young alive, you can mount some of 

 the skins while the others serve as living models. 



Now comes an important point. It usually happens that at 

 the time when the young are of the best age to display in a 

 group, the fur of the adult specimen is at its poorest. Worse 

 than that, shedding is often in progress. No matter what hy- 

 percritics may say, do not hesitate to perpetrate an anachronism 

 by taking adult specimens later in the season, when their fur is 

 at its best. It would be an injustice to the group, to the species, 

 and to yourself, to include adult specimens in their poorest pel- 

 age. Along with your groups of young animals, which neces- 

 sarily represent conditions during spring or summer, do not 

 forget to represent some of your species in their winter homes, 

 with their stores of nuts, acorns, etc., for winter use. 



The field open to the conscientious and really artistic taxider- 

 mist in the preparation of groups is a wide and deeply inter- 

 esting one. I know of no branch of taxidermy which ought to 

 be more interesting than this. Its possibilities are open to all. 

 While it is impossible for everyone to prepare groups of 

 large mammals, in the matter of small groups you can say, " The 

 world's mine oyster." 



GROUPS OF LARGE MAMMALS. In creating a high-class group 

 of large mammals, it is, as lias been stated before, extremely 

 desirable to prepare the design first, and collect the specimens 

 to suit it. There is no burrow or nest to reproduce, and tl'is 

 course is not only possible, but usually very necessary. 



There is one important fact which should never be lost sight 

 of in the preparation of a design for a group of large quadru- 

 peds. If the animals are purely terrestrial, as will be the case 



