66 Guide to Taxidermy 



made record of when skinning a specimen, and in 

 case of a made-up skin, should be on the tag accom- 

 panying the same, so that should anyone desire ti> 

 mount that skin there would be no doubt as to the 

 color of eye. You can procure eyes at small cost 

 from your dealer in supplies. Chapter 1 1 shows a 

 chart giving the sizes and styles of eyes commonly 

 used and also an explanation of the sizes and colors 

 used for many birds. An eye should be just a hair 

 larger than is the eye opening of the specimen it is 

 for. 



Putty is used for holding the eyes in position. It 

 can be procured at any paint store for a few cents 

 a pound. Black putty is the best for the purpose, 

 but white will answer if you cannot get the other. 

 The putty should be just soft enough so as to be 

 easily squeezed with the fingers ; if it is too soft it 

 will be very sticky and requires the addition of a 

 little whiting; if it is too hard it will crumble and 

 needs a drop or two of boiled oil added to it. It is 

 well to procure a few ounces of each of these in- 

 gredients at your paint store for you frequently 

 need them as putty hardens rapidly if open to the 



