66 STUFFING. 
back. Let the whole internal surface of the skin be well 
rubbed with the preservative. The body is then stuffed to its 
full size, and afterwards sewed up. The stuffing of the head 
must be completed through the orbits of the eyes, and also by 
the mouth. This finished, the glass eyes are inserted, as in | 
other animals, and fixed by means of cement. 
Many species of fish have semi-transparent cartilages con- 
nected with the eyes. These must be imitated with gum- 
| arabic and powdered starch, as well as the cornea of the eyes. 
The skins of all fish, which are similar to that of Sharks, 
must be well supplied with spirits of turpentine, after they are 
mounted, more particularly the head and fins; but as they are 
_ not glossy, they do not require to be varnished. 
When the fins are strong, it is necessary to keep them ex- | 
tended by means of a wire introduced through them, 
In the Diadons, the chief thing to be attended to, beyond 
what we have above stated, is, to take care that the spines, 
with which their skins are beset, are not broken or depressed in | 
| any way. 
The Fishing Frog, ( Lophius Piscatorius), is very easily pre- 
_ served, as the colours are not so liable to change as in many other 
| species. 
Salmon, Trout, Tench, Carp, Pike, &c. are very easily pre- 
| served, as the scales are firmly attached to the skin; and 
although they become somewhat dim from drying, their colours | 
and brilliancy are considerably restored by means of varnish, | 
if applied before they are thoroughly dried. 
After a lapse of time, the varnish will rise into little scales ; 
| to remove these, nitric acid, diluted in water, must be applied to 
the whole external surface, which has the effect of completely 
taking off the varnish, or at least of raising it from the skin, 
which, when allowed to dry, can be wholly removed by rubbing 
it with a small brush. It may then be varnished again: when 
dry, it will ever afterwards continue quite solid. 
The late.Mr Stuckbury had a method of preparing the fresh 
water fishes of Britain, which was much admired at the time. 
He skinned them under water, by which means he retained 
the scales in great perfection. But this method is too trouble- 
some to be generally adopted. 
What is above recommended will apply to almost all fishes : 
