The Various Steps in Taxidermy 



The greatest difficulty in movinting birds 

 is to remove the skin without injuring the 

 plumage. A bird is opened imder the 

 wing. After the body is removed the 

 skin is painted inside with a preservative 



Preparing to skin the deer's head. Some- 

 times a mold is prepared to take the place 

 of the natural bones of the head. The 

 skin is drawn over it and padded out with 

 tow to correct any irregularities of contour 



Putting the finishing touches to the mounted speci- 

 men. After setting up, the head is painted over 

 with a solution of bichloride of mercury and methyl- 

 ated spirits of wine to protect it against the ravages 

 of insects, which are the greatest foe which the 

 masters of the art of taxidermy have to combat 



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