184 THE naturalist's guide. 



Section II. Mounting Mammals. — There is no 

 part of this work wherein I have made so much im- 

 provement as in the present section. 



For many years I have endeavored to find some 

 method by which Mammals could be mounted, and 

 still retain the life-like fullness of the muscles, espe- 

 cially those in the region of the head. In order to ac- 

 complish this, I knew that I must fill the parts with 

 some substance which would not shrink upon drying^ 

 and yet be readily moulded. Happily I have found 

 two materials which admirably answer the purpose, 

 viz., clay and plaster. 



In mounting very small Mammals, either supply the 

 place of the muscles of the skull with plaster, or make 

 a cast of the entire head, taking care in both cases to 

 insert a wire so that it shall protrude out of the back 

 of the occiput. Fill the legs with clay, place the 

 skull or cast in position, then fill the neck with clay, 

 and proceed as before directed, only using clay in place 

 of bran. It must be remembered that Mammal mount- 

 ing is extremely difficult, and that it requires long prac- 

 tice to acquire anything like perfection ; yet, if com- 

 plete measurements have been taken, and the pupil is 

 familiar with the subject, he will learn, although nec- 

 essarily more slowly than in mounting birds. 



I have made this subject a life-study, and have yet 

 to learn a better method, although I think I am famil- 

 iar with all the various styles of Mammal mounting 

 practised by others. At the risk of being considered 

 egotistical, I will say, that, with very few exceptions, I 

 have never seen a Mammal mounted well that was 

 done in any other way. 



The preceding will only answer for Mammals smaller 

 than a Mink. In large specimens, when the recent 

 animal is at hand, I arrange the rods as directed, withf 



