MOUNTING HEADS, ANTLERS, AND HORNS. 73 



dirt with it, and leaving the coat smooth and glossy. 

 Draw the nail from the nose, perfect the nostrils with 

 putty, also the under parts of the eyelids, which will give 

 them the appearance of resting close on the eyes, as in 

 life. Paint them neatly with cassel earth, also the muz- 

 zle, and when dry give the same a coat of varnish. Clean 

 the horns with a damp brush and cloth, and varnish them 

 when dry. 



The head can be fastened on a shield, by running long 

 screws through it from the back into the base-board of 

 the neck. The screw-hook should be removed from the 

 neck-board to the shield. The second method of preparing 

 heals, is what may be called mounting heads on the skulls. 

 To do this, prepare the skins as in previous method. 

 Clean the skull and dry well. Fill the brain cavity with 

 plaster, and insert an iron rod, bent double, inside the 

 skull. When the plaster is well set, perfect the anatomy 

 of the skull by modelling with the same. Make a base 

 neck-board as in the first method, running the iron 

 through it and clinching it in position in a groove, with 

 wire staples, that it may not prevent the shield from fit- 

 ting closely. Bend the iron to the desired curve, and 

 complete as in first method. 



When mounting large heads, such as those of the buffalo, 

 elk, moose, caribou, and ox, two irons are placed in the 

 skull, with the neck-board fastened and clinched between 

 them. To prevent the head from being too heavy, the 

 anatomy of the skull is built out with pads of excelsior 

 and perfected with clay or cement. 



Owing to the great size and awkward proportions of 

 elk antlers, they can be separated in order to facilitate 

 packing, by cleaving the skull lengthwise. Where, how- 

 ever, transportion is available, the skulls should be kept 

 perfect, as separating necessitates much after trouble and 

 extra labor for the taxidermist. The solid portion of the 

 skull is small and frail for holding fastenings with which 

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