METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. ^n 



imens for museum purposes, it is needful to place a turtle in a swim- 

 iniug attitude. lu such cases the work of procedure is the same as 

 that previously described in the paper on mountin<( Crustacea. A 

 block of wood is fastened in the body, to which all the wires are at- 

 tached, and to this is secured a rod of sufficient size to bear the weieht 

 of the finished piece. 



"A word in regard to finishing: Sea-turtles, snapping-turtles, 

 and a few others, whose colors are dull, need only a coat of varnish, 

 greatly thinned with turpentine, to render them fresh looking. It is, 

 of course, understood that you have thoroughly washed the specimen. 

 But all turtles marked with bright colors will need to be painted, and 

 this must be done with thin color, often stippled over to avoid a 

 streaked appearance. Large cracks and broken scales can be repaired 

 with papier-mache; small ones, such as seams, etc., with colored wax. 

 White wax can be colored by melting it and stirring in a little tube- 

 color; use hot. Of course particular cases will often require particular 

 modes of treatment ; but once the general principles are thoroughly 

 mastered these can be readily met." 



Another Method of Preparing Turtles. — A very ingenious and 

 exceptional method of preparing a turtle so as to show both the 

 skeleton and the outside in a single specimen is the subject of 

 Plate LXXXIII. Our drawings were made from a specimen of the 

 "Slider" Pseudeniys rugosa., beautifully prepared by Mr. Lucas. 

 This method of preparing a turtle is particularly valuable when it 

 is desirable to preserve the bony structure and, at the same time, 

 show the external characteristics of a rare turtle. It is likewise 

 advisable to use this method in the common species as study speci- 

 mens. Our illustration, we think, gives a fair idea of the manner in 

 which they may thus be prepared. Specimens of this kind may be 

 mounted on a brass standard which is split at the upper end like a Y, 

 the stems being riveted to the lower part of the shell. One-half 

 of the plastron may be fastened on the other by means of small brass 

 hinges so that it may open like a door. ]\Ir. Jules Bailly was the 

 originator of this method of preparing the skin and skeleton of a turtle. 



Crocodiles and Alligators (Cr6'^(9^//z'rt). — The crocodiles and alli- 

 gators form the highest order of existing reptiles. Their tough skin, 

 thick scales, their shape determined beforehand, make them easy sub- 

 jects for the experienced taxidermist to handle. For him it amounts 

 to little more than physical exertion to mount one of the largest speci- 

 mens. The very small ones require more delicate manipulation. To 

 skin an alligator, make an opening incision at the throat and continue 



