CHAPTER XII. 



MOUNTING MAMMAL HEADS. 



The chief procedures, in the mounting of mammal heads, are shon-n 

 ill Plates LXIX and LXX. If the head has horns it must be skinned 

 through an opening incision made in the back of the neck (Fig. 1, 

 Plate LXIX), and this cut must extend all the way around the base of 

 the horns. This incision can also be made in the shape of a Y, the 

 stems extending around the horns. If the head has no horns, the skin 

 should be cut off the desired length on the neck, and it can be skinned 

 wrong side out over the skull. Heads having horns are often shipped 

 to taxidermists by sportsmen and others with the neck cut off entirely 

 too short. You may have a head mounted whose skin has been cut 

 oflf just back of the ears if you choose, but you cannot in this case 

 blame the taxidermist for not producing the ideal. 



In the heads of all mammals with large horns the skin should be 

 cut off just in front of the shoulders, and it should be left longest on 

 the under side of the neck. The reason this should be done is that 

 the head can then be given \\\q. proper elevation^ and when mounted on 

 a shield the horns will clear the wall. Moreover, the neck, which adds 

 to the beauty of the animal, can be given the curve and shape which 

 are characteristic of it in life. Therefore, if elegance and beauty are 

 the objects in mounted heads, the length of the neck is, before skinning 

 the subject, one of the important calculations to be made. Sportsmen, 

 when you are in the field, and by your prowess, lay low an elk, a 

 moose or a deer, and desire to have the heads mounted to decorate 

 your halls, be sure that the length of the neck-skin is sufficient for 

 your purpose before the knife has severed it from the body-skin. 



In heads with short horns or without horns the length of the neck, 

 is arbitrary, and must be governed by one's judgment and taste. 



With these preliminary remarks I shall proceed to describe the 

 best method of mounting a mammal head of anv kind. We shall take 

 for our trial a deer head, one similar to the fine specimen represented 

 in Fig. 3, Plate LXXI, which was mounted and drawn by Dr. Jasper. 

 When the opening cut has been made up the back of the neck and 

 around the base of the horns, proceed to separate the skin from the 

 flesh until you come to the base of the skull. At this point you will 



IS (273) 



