Guide to Taxidermy 



191 



wings the other two are brought into play. Your 

 supply dealer can furnish them. 



Clay 



Potter's clay is always a very useful and often 

 a necessary article for a taxidermist to have in 

 stock. Many use it for modelling the faces of ani- 

 mals and for reproducing muscles on the body and 

 legs (for this purpose, in the majority of cases, 

 either plaster or papier-mache are preferable) 

 while for the mounting of reptiles it is indispen- 

 sible. Clay comes in dry lumps and is heavy, so if 

 you have to order it from a distance it is best to 

 get a quantity and have it come by freight. Your 

 supply dealer will have it, or if tliere is an iron 

 foundry near, you can get it there. For use, clay 

 is either broken up finely with a hammer or rolled 

 out with a wooden roll. 



Water is added in small quantities and mixed 

 until the clay becomes stiff, so it can be worked 

 and moulded with the hands. It is best to cut up a 

 small quantity of tow, as finely as possible and stir 

 this in with the clay. This adds much to the 

 strength of the clay when it is dry. 



Cops 



For winding the plumage of birds as well as for 

 ■winding the bodies, nothing is as good as cops. 

 This is fine, soft, cotton thread that is used for 



