2 30 



METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 



mixed and put ou with a small trowel, but the hands should be used 

 in rubbing it into the tow and in forming the various muscles. For the 

 uses of clay, see page 45. Replace the muscles of the head with clay, 

 and your model is ready for the skin. Insert sheet copper or lead, cut 

 and hammered into shape, into the ear skin, as advised on page 192. 

 In sewing up the opening in a mammal mounted by this method, much 

 can be done in developing and bringing out the beauties of the various 

 muscles as you proceed with the sewing. The thin skin which ex- 

 tends from the thigh to the side of the body should be filled with clay 

 and nicely pressed into shape. When sewing has been begun on an 

 animal, and it is desirous to leave it for a time, the skin should be 

 covered with wet blankets in order to keep it in a soft condition 

 until the sewing is completed. The head is now ready to be finished 

 with clay and chopped tow, through the mouth, and the most careful 

 work must be done here. See Chapter XII. In this position the 

 mouth, if the skin has been properly thinned, will retain its shape 

 forever. The eyes come last and may be imbedded in clay mixed with 

 glue water or in papier-mache. Now comb the hair with a steel 

 comb, and clean the specimen up generally by brushing it with a 

 moderately stiff brush. The animal is now ready to set away until 

 it is thoroughly dry, during which time it should be examined daily 

 to see that all parts are properly drying. 



There are no rules by which a person can acquire skill and sound 

 judgment in the finishing up of mammals mounted by this method. 

 His skill, which may be excellent, will improve by practice and 

 experience. Whatever you do, let neatness of finish be one of the 

 characteristics of your completed specimens, and let the merit of your 

 work speak for itself. 



I should advise the beginner not to take a dry skin for his first effort 

 in the dermoplastic method. By all means skin the animal yourself, 

 and have it as fresh as you can secure it. It should be remembered 

 that in skinning hoofed animals to be mounted on this plan the leg 

 bones should be detached at the hoof; in all others the bones of the 

 foot only should remain attached to the skin. 



In large mammals, such as the deer, elk, horse, etc., we must 

 'make a center-board out of inch and a half pine lumber; this should 

 be exactly the shape of the contour of the body as seen in Fig. 1, 

 Plate LVI. The iron squares for the reception of the leg irons for a 

 horse should be three-eighths in thickness, and the leg irons should be 

 made of five-eighths Norway iron. The skull is fastened to the cen- 

 ter-board by means of an iron rod on which it is bolted. This rod 



