INSTRUCTION IN TAXIDERMY. 



BACKWOODS TAXIDERMY. 



With a slight knowledge of taxidermy, the hunter can prepare and preserve 

 hard earned trophies of the chase. The following tools and materials are all 

 that are absolutely needed : 



A heavy and light scalpel, or good pocket knife, scissors, needles and thread, 

 cotton wadding, or any soft material if not obtainable ; arsenic, alum, saltpetre, 

 carbolic acid, paper for wrappers, and a little bran, meal, or fine sawdust to use 

 when skinning. , 



To make a Bird into a Skin.— La.y the bird on its back and make a longitudinal 

 cut from the breast bone to the vent. Push the body away from the skin with 

 the knife, holding the skin firmly between the fingers and thumb of the left hand, 

 and avoid cutting as much as possible. When the skin has been removed far 

 enough to expose the shins, unjoint them at the knee, and cut through the flesh 

 until the skin is laid bare. Skin down to the vent and cut off the extremity of 

 the body which holds the tail feathers, and remove the skin to the wings, unjoint- 

 ing them and skinning to below the eyes. Cut the neck off close to the head, 

 -and remove the triangular, lower part of the skull, and the brains. Take out the 

 eyes, and cut away all superfluous flesh from the skull, leg, and wing bones and 

 unjoint the main bone of the wing from the double bones or fore-arm. 



(In skinning large bi^ds, break the wings close to the body at the commence- 

 ment, as it will facilitate the handling, and skinning.) 



Pass a thread through the wing bones and draw them nearly together, tying 

 them in position. Cram the eye holes full of cotton, wrap the leg bones with the 

 same, and draw them back in natural position. Dust the whole flesh side of the 

 skin freely with dry arsenic, and return the skin. Should the neck become 

 stretched, and difficult to return, soap it, and it will slip over the head easily. 

 Smooth the plumage, fill out the body, sew up the skin, cross the legs and tie 

 them, and wrap the skin closely in sheet cotton, or thin paper. A skin thus pre- 

 pared will keep for fifty years or more, and can be naturally mounted at any time. 



Mouniiu^ Birds with closed wings. — Lay the specimen on its back and fill the 

 throat with cotton to keep the saliva from soiling the plumage. If the bird is a 

 large one, such as a hawk, owl, raven, gull, etc., it should have the nostrils 

 crowded full of cotton to prevent similar disastrous effects. If a bird is bloody, 

 wash the soiled parts in cold water and dry the feathers as much as possible with 

 a dry rag or sponge, and cover them with calcined plaster, which can be had in 

 any paint store, rubbing it lightly into the plumage until the feathers are dry and 

 assume their natural appearance. To remove the plaster from the feathers beat 

 the bird vigorously with the wing of a bird or fowl. When cleaned, lay the bird 

 on its back and make a longitudinal cut from the breast bone to the vent. Push 



