132 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



over the seam. If necessary, the anatomy about the eyes 

 should be perfected with putty or cement. 



The specimen should then be painted its natural col- 

 ors. When the paint is thoroughly dry, a coat of light, 

 white, transparent varnish, will add materially to the 

 effect. 



A large fish is usually opened down the belly, and sup- 

 ported by two irons running from a board inside down 

 through the skin into the stand. Irons for very large 

 specimens should have threads cut on their ends, and be 

 fastened to the stands with nuts and washers. 



Heads of the larger species can be neatly mounted on 

 shields. Those of muskellonge, salmon, bass, blue- 

 fish, etc., appear more life-like when they have the 

 mouth open, and are modelled in wax. To prepare 

 one in this manner, cut off the head far enough behind 

 the gills to leave a portion of the skin of the body at- 

 tached ; skin to the occipital, remove all superfluous 

 flesh, and dust with arsenic. Clinch a wire in the skull 

 from the inside, stuff it carefully, and fit a thin piece 

 of wood to the neck-skin, fcacking it in position. The 

 neck- wire should pass through the piece of wood, and be 

 clinched firmly. A small wire staple should be driven 

 into the top of the neck, for facilitating the work, and 

 suspending the specimen. Set the eyes in naturally, wedge 

 the jaws open, raise the tongue by placing potter's clay 

 under it ; then allow the head to dry. It is necessary to 

 remove the tongues of some of the larger species, and to 

 substitute those made with cement or wax. The latter 

 can be easily molded from the natural tongues. 



The artificial tongues should be cast or modelled on 

 wires with sharp ends, which can be run down firmly into 

 the stuffing of the head, to hold them in position. The 

 base of the tongues must be completed and connected to 

 the head by modelling with wax and hot irons, or the 

 anatomy perfected by modelling with cement or putty. 



