54 METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 



Polishing Natural Wood. — While the taxidermist may sometimes 

 have occasion to paint his stands, shields and artificial work of various 

 kinds, he will usually obtain a better eflfect by polishing the natural 

 wood. Black and white walnut, cherry and oak are favorite woods, 

 and when well polished by an expert present a handsome appearance. 

 To do these well requires experience and care. The jack-of-all-trades 

 seems to go upon the precept that anything is good enough and does 

 his work with any kind of tools, while the expert mechanic must pro- 

 ceed about his work systematically and with the best of tools. 



Before proceeding to apply varnish the pores of the wood must be 

 properly filled. Hard ivood filler may be purchased of any dealer in 

 painters' supplies. If it cannot be obtained, however, a good substi- 

 tute may be made as follows: Take a small quantity of whiting and 

 mix with such colors as will approach the nearest the color of its wood 

 to be filled. This mixture should be dry. Give the wood a coat of 

 oil^ then sprinkle over it the dry colors, which are now to be rubbed 

 over well with a cloth or a piece of chamois. Clean off all superfluous 

 material, and when the oil has thoroughly dried the varnish may be 

 applied. Shellac varnish may be put on with a cloth, being rubbed 

 briskly over the wood. A good polish may be produced by the use of 

 hard oil finish., which is a kind of varnish and not difficult to work. 

 Having properly filled the wood apply a coat of the hard oil which 

 will dry in a few hours. When it has dried hard, rub off" the gloss with 

 pulverized pumice-stone and water, taking care not to rub through to 

 the wood, especially at the angles and sharp places of the work. Clean 

 thoroughly and apply a second coat of the finish. Rub off the gloss 

 as before and apply a third and a fourth coat in the same manner, rub- 

 bing down the work after each coat dries with the pumice-stone. 

 Having applied the last coat and again eiuployed the pumice-stone to 

 kill the gloss, clean the work and rub down with roden stone and 

 siveet oil. Clean and polish with chamois leather. Good copal varnish 

 may be applied similarly. 



Stains. — If the wood of which our work is made is pine or poplar, 

 and it is desired to give it the appearance of hard wood, stains can be 

 employed to do this. Dealers usually keep good cherry and walnut 

 stains in stock, but if they can not be obtained, they can be produced 

 with little trouble and expense. 



An excellent black stain, which is susceptible of a high polish, 

 can be made as follows: Pour two quarts of boiling water over one 

 ounce of powdered extract of logivood, and when the latter is fully dis- 

 solved add one dram of yellow chromate of potash, and stir. Give the 



