METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 21 i 



must be restored by artificial processes. The patches of bare skin in 

 some birds and quadrupeds, as well as the lips, tongue, nostrils, etc., 

 of the latter must be restored to proper coloration by the use of paints. 

 To accomplish this skillfully is not always an easy task. The taxider- 

 mist who would execute his work in the most efficient manner must 

 put into use a considerable amount of skill, patience and ingenuity. 



Careful notes should be made when the specimen is fresh of the 

 colors that are known to be evanescent, or it will serve better if a live 

 or freshly killed specimen can be used for observation at the time the 

 dried one is to be colored. The surface to be painted should be 

 dry and clean. All shot-holes, if any exist, must be filled with papier- 

 mache, over which two coats of shellac varnish should be applied. The 

 papier mache being porous, rapidly absorbs the oil of paint applied 

 directly over it, leaving the paint to dry with a dead color. The shel- 

 lac prevents the absorption of the oil, and the whole painted surface 

 will dry uniformly. 



Materials. — The best materials for restoring colors are such as are 

 used by artists in oil painting. The Windsor and Newton tube 

 colors, as recommended on page 22, are fully sufficient for all fine 

 work. The pigments and other supplies to be employed in coarse 

 taxidermic work have already been discussed in Chapter II, pages 51 

 and 52. Of the many colors that may be obtained in tubes, a few only 

 will answer the purpose of the taxidermist, since from these, carefully 

 selected, all the ordinary tints that will be found serviceable in taxi- 

 dermy may be produced. They may be mentioned as follows : 

 Vandyke brown, Prussian blue, ivory black, chrome yellow, Naples 

 yellow, zinc white, raw and burned umber, raw and burned sienna, 

 yellow ochre and vermilion. Possibly a few others may be added 

 with advantage. Use the middle of the palette for blending colors and 

 the margin for depositing such primary colors as you desire to use in 

 mixing. 



Tone of Colors.— It will be noticed that the colors in specimens 

 to be painted are usually of a subdued nature, seldom gaudy or glossy. 

 Care should, therefore, be exercised that the proper tone may be ac- 

 quired before applying. The lips of quadrupeds must be mentioned 

 as exceptions to this rule, as they are always more or less glossy. 

 When it is necessary to produce a gloss, boiled linseed oil may be used 

 in thinning the colors on the palette ; but if no gloss is desired, tur- 

 pentine should be used exclusively. The less gloss required the less 

 oil should be used and the more turpentine. 



