Guide to Taxidermy 



187 



the preserving, entire, of small specimens. These 

 may be taken out and mounted at any time, but 

 specimens such as snakes, lizards, fish, etc., are 

 frequently preserved for exhibition in alcohol. 



Many druggists sell adulterated alcohol; it 

 should contain at least 91% of absolute alcohol 

 which is recognized as pure. For use the alcohol 

 should be diluted with one-third its bulk of water. 



It is best to put it in large-mouthed glass jars, 

 just a bit larger than your specimens require. 

 Whatever the specimen you wish to preserve, it is 

 best to first make a deep cut on the abdomen so the 

 liquid will have free action on their interior. 



You can get alcohol at druggists and often at 

 paint stores, but you want grain alcohol and not 

 wood, such as dealers in paints most often use. 



Alum 



Powdered alum is often used by the taxidermist. 

 It is a hardening substance, that is, it will cause 

 the skin of an animal to shrink and harden. It is 

 used chiefly in the "salt and alum" bath, which is 

 described under salt. 



Arsenic 



By this we do not mean the mineral arsenic, but 

 the white powdered form (arsenious acid). This 

 verv necessarv article is Poisonous, taken internal- 



