CURING THE SPECIMENS. 167 



or when the specimen comes to be mounted it will be 

 impossible for the taxidermist to do justice to the sub- 

 ject. Martin Williams, with a little instruction as to 

 the nose and ears, became very expert, and would be 

 worth more than his wages for that purpose alone. 

 Even after the head skin is off it is no small job to 

 clean the skull properly. The brain must be thor- 

 oughly removed, as well as every particle of flesh, and 

 the cavity of the nostrils must be well swabbed out. 

 After all this has been attended to the salt, alum and 

 arsenic mixture used in curing the skins should be 

 applied and the specimen placed in as dry a place as 

 the accommodations afford, with a free circulation of 

 air. In the curing of the head skins the writer uses 

 the following mixture, which gives the very best re- 

 sults in any cimate : 



Fine salt 6 ounces. 



Pulverized alum 2 ounces. 



Arsenic 1 ounce. 



Mix well. 



As soon as the skin has been removed from the 

 animal, or before it has become dry, rub the powder 

 into the flesh side well, being very careful to see that 

 it has been well applied to the very edges of the skin, 

 as well as the lips, eyelids and the everted ears. After 

 every portion has been gone over and well rubbed in, 



