288 TAXIDERMY AND ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



ton thoroughly with clear water, and perhaps it is then ready 

 to mount. 



Often the bones of a small skeleton contain an inordinate 

 amount of grease. The easiest and simplest way to remove it 

 is to soak the greasy bones for several days or weeks, as may be 

 necessary, in a jar of pure naphtha. 



MOUNTING A SMALL SKELETON. The skeleton of every bird, 

 mammal, and reptile requires to have the spinal cord replaced 

 by a stout zinc wire, to give both strength and rigidity to the 

 structure. Zinc wire is necessary because iron wire will rust, and 

 brass wire is too expensive to use when something cheaper and 

 better is obtainable. If you cannot procure zinc wire, use good 

 galvanized iron wire. For very large specimens you may use 

 iron wire, but it must be covered with two coats of asphaltnm, 

 applied with a brush, like black paint. After inserting the 

 wire the full length of the cavity of the spinal cord, leave 

 enough of the end protruding beyond the first vertebra of the 

 neck to afford a means for the attachment of the skull. The 

 extra length to be allowed should always be nearly equal to the 

 lateral depth of the brain cavity. 



ATTITUDE. It is often somewhat difficult to decide upon the 

 attitude the. skeleton is to have when finished. The possibili- 

 ties in this line are extensive, and the result depends entirely 

 upon the character of the subject, and the knowledge and good 

 taste of the operator. In the first place, the position of the 

 skeleton must be a correct representation of some characteristic 

 attitude of the species. For example, a sloth skeleton should 

 hang underneath a branch; a monkey should be climbing, or 

 walking on a stout bough ; a hyena should sneak and crouch ; 

 a passerine bird should always perch, while the penguins and 

 the auks must stand erect on flat pedestals. If the young oste- 

 ologist can do so, it will pay him well to travel several hundred 

 miles, if need be, to see the beautiful, and even elegant, collec- 

 tion of skeletons and other preparations in Mr. F. A. Lucas's 

 Department of Comparative Anatomy in the National Museum, 

 all of the specimens in which have been prepared, mounted 

 and displayed by Mr. Lucas and his assistant, Mr. Joseph W. 

 Schollick. I know of no other osteological collection which in 

 the beauty and scientific accuracy of mounting, and exhibition 



