148 



PKACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



Small groups may be made with minks, weasels, mar- 

 tens, fishers^ hares, and large fowls ; and all animals 

 should be mounted attacking their natural prey or ene- 

 mies. I have seen a New York taxidermist make the 

 mistake of placing anacondas around roebucks and Vir- 

 gmia deer, and woodcock and English snipe together 

 in the same snow scene. 



Reptiles, fishes, and crustaceans should, in arranging, 

 be grouped together in their proper genera. 



Insects may be arranged in the same way for scientific 

 use. For ornamental purposes, they can be formed into 

 designs. Stars are easily made by commencmg with 

 large moths or butterflies, placed heads inward in a cir- 

 cle. These should be ^^ shinded " with smaller ones un- 

 til the points of the star are formed. Two of a species 

 can be used in each point, and the females, being the 

 largest, should be placed first. A tarantula or large Bra- 

 zilian beetle makes a pretty center-piece, though small 

 beetles and other insects may be used. Lettering can 

 be neatly done with insects, particularly with the smaller 

 moths and beetles. 



Birds' eggs should be placed m sets, and the sets in 

 families. 



