112 



PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



CHAPTER XVII 



MEDALLION HEADS. 



To give variety in ornamental taxidermy, heads with 

 necks attached may be tastefully mounted in medallion 

 effect. Heads of animals, birds, reptiles, etc., can be 

 _ prepared as described, 



leaving the neck-wires 

 long enough to be passed 

 through and clinched to 

 a shield. The heads of 

 birds of prey, pheasants, 

 and the larger water birds 

 are the most attractive. 

 The head of the great 

 horned owl, with ears 

 properly erected, appears 

 very life-like. Heads of 

 nearly all the duck family are effective when mounted, par- 

 ticularly those of the wood-duck, and hooded merganser. 

 When mounting heads, use as heavy a wire as can be 

 clinched in the skull without crushing it. The artificial 

 neck should be made a trifle larger than the natural one, 

 and the head modelled in clay or cement. The eyes should 

 be evenly and artistically set ; the bill, cere, and gular 

 skin, painted naturally, the color being brought out with 

 a coat of transparent varnish. 



MEDALLION WILD GOOSE HEAD. 



