3o6 



METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 



tity of finely chopped tow. Lay it in the skin and sew up, beginning 

 at the tip of the tail and working toward the body, adding or subtract- 

 ing clay here and there as occasion may require. Form in a general 

 way the larger folds or wrinkles of the skin, leaving the finer markings 

 until the animal is on its pedestal. Always decide the position of the 

 finished piece before commencing work, and bend all your irons and 

 shape the legs, neck and tail with that predetermined form in view. 

 Remember that turtles swim and walk with the same movements as 

 do most animals — the right fore and left hind leg moving together. 



" The tail being finished, proceed with the hind legs, making so 

 far as possible the same bends in the wires that are to be in the joints 

 of the leg when finished, and tying the wire securely to the bones. 

 Wrap the legs with coarse tow, taking care not to get the lower part 

 too round. But little pains need be taken with the upper part of the 

 leg, as it is concealed within the body, and most of the lower portion, 

 as well as the " paddle," will need to be made with clay in order to in- 

 sure a proper degree of flatness. If the animal is sufficiently small, the 

 three hinder wires may be fastened together as follows : Place the 

 knees and tail in their proper position — the animal lying, of course, 

 on its back — and form a ring in the tail-wire just where the leg-wires 

 cross. Through this pass the leg-wires and twist all firmly together, 

 so that there shall be no ' wobbling.' If the specimen is large, the 

 wires must be fastened to a piece of wood running lengthwise of the 

 body, as in a large mammal. Secure the tail-wire with staples, and 

 bore holes for the leg- wires through which they are passed, adjusted 

 to the proper length, bent down against the boaid and secured with 

 staples. It will next be necessary to fill in from the base of the tail 

 to the legs. This can be done with chopped tow, after having first 

 placed a good coat of clay on the skin in which to model the wrinkles. 

 Now proceed with the neck and front paddles. Run the neck rod 

 into the brain cavity and fasten it there securely, either by tying or by 

 bending it down through the roof of the mouth, and turning it back- 

 ward. It can be run out through the mouth, but this plan is not so 

 solid as the above. The neck and front flippers are made and fastened 

 in a similar manner to the tail and hind flippers. 



" Secure the cut edges of the plastron together with wires, and in 

 sewing the skin use strong thread, and pull the edges tightly together, 

 in order that the shrinkage in drying may not cause an unsightly gap. 

 In very large turtles it is sometimes necessary, in addition to the leg- 

 wires, to run a bolt through the plastron into the wood, to which the 

 leg-rods are fastened. After the specimen has been placed on its tern- 



