56 Methods of prepariny Natural Skeletons of Birds. 



times larger birds, of a bad colour, must be kept in the solution 

 nearly a week. When the skeleton is removed from the solution 

 of alum, the ligaments will be found to have become much stiff- 

 ened, though not so much but that the skeleton can be easily 

 put into position. The next step is to wash the skeleton slightly 

 under a tap of water, if convenient, or if not, in a basin ; this 

 prevents the crystals of alum forming on the outside of the 

 bones when dry. It is now ready for mounting, and will be 

 easily brought into the position in which it is wished to be 

 arranged in the following way : — Having fixed the feet to a stand, 

 prepare a flat board, and upon it an upright square or rounded 

 piece of wood, with numerous holes drilled horizontally through 

 it at different distances, in which wire-pegs can be inserted, so as 

 to be moveable to different heights. Fasten the second vertebra 

 of the skeleton to the topmost peg with a thread, and other 

 parts of the skeleton to such wire-pegs as may be found con- 

 venient, according to the attitude necessary. When the skeleton 

 is dry, it will merely require to be varnished with mastic varnish, 

 and is then complete. It is generally better to remove the head, 

 for greater convenience in cleansing out the brain ; this may be 

 easily fastened on again with a piece of wire. 



The most difficult skeletons to clean are those which have 

 been dried with much flesh left on them, particularly when it 

 has remained on them for any length of time. It is sometimes 

 almost impossible to succeed in bringing the bones of such 

 skeletons to a good colour. In this case macerate the bones 

 first in plain water, and remove as much of the flesh as possible. 

 Then place the skeleton in a strong solution of carbonate of 

 potash, or even, if requisite, in a weaker one of caustic potash, 

 though this only for a very few hours. Remove any flesh that 

 could not previously be taken off, and then macerate it again in 

 water for about tw enty-four hours. The treatment is afterwards 

 the same as in that of fresh skeletons. Those skeletons that 

 have been previously slightly macerated will be found to be 

 much more easily prepared than those that have not been dipped 

 in water at all before packing, as in the former case the re- 

 maining flesh does not become nearly so hard and impervious 

 to water. 



