HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 481 



Craxirex unicinctus), the little Ground Dove, and the quaint 

 Wood Ibis, called there "Colorado Turkey" {Tantalus locu- 

 lator) . 



My object has been to give merely a sketch of the pro- 

 gress of the fauna! seasons, as I saw them. 



HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 



BY C. A. WALKER. 



[Concluded from page 201.1 



The method of shinning and mounting tortoises and turtles. 

 — By examining the exterior covering of this order it Avill 

 be seen that it consists of two horny plates or shields, which 

 are closely united at the sides, forming a protection to the 

 soft parts of the body ; the upper one is called the carapace, 

 and the lower one the sternum or breast bone. Before com- 

 mencing the operation of skinning it is necessary to sepa- 

 rate these two plates by means of a strong knife, chisel, or 

 other similar instrument, or a fine saw, taking great care to 

 make the separation at the suture, as far as possible, and 

 to avoid cracking the shell. After this operation has been 

 finished remove all the flesh adhering to both the upper and 

 under plates. The arrangement of the bones and muscles 

 difters so essentially from that of the other orders of verte- 

 brates that attention should be given to this point in remov- 

 ing the various parts. The fore and hind legs should be 

 turned out, and all the flesh adhering to them removed, 

 taking care not to separate these various parts from their 

 attachments to the upper shell ; also, the neck and head 

 should undergo the same opei'ation, the brain and eyes being 

 removed. The inner surface should now be thoroughly 

 cleaned by means of a stiff" brush, and the preservative ap- 

 plied to every part, after which they may be restored to 



AMKR, NATURALIST, VOL. III. 61 



