170 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



CHAPTBE XXXI. 



USEFUL ORNAMENTS FROM ANTLERS AND FEET. 



The horns of all animals can be used in a great variety 

 of ways in ornamental work. The value of antlers de- 

 pends much on the regularity of their prongs, which 

 gives them a convenient shape. 



Elk and mule-deer have the most even horns, though 

 those of the Virginia deer are the prettiest in color and 

 surface. The heavy palmate horns of the moose are of- 

 ten found with great regularity, and, when well curved, 

 make substantial racks for guns, clothing, etc. . 



The thin, long, light palmated antlers of the caribou 

 are usually inconvenient in shape, and are used chiefly 

 as ornaments. Antlers of the white-tailed deer are often 

 regular and very pretty in appearance, though there is 

 not a species in the genus Cervus which bears antlers of 

 such varying forms as the Virginia deer. In my collec- 

 tion of over one hundred pairs of antlers of this species, 

 there are scarcely two pairs that are at all alike. 



Large horns " make up " best m hat or gun-racks. 

 They should be mounted in accordance with the place 

 they are designed to ' occupy, the matter of space being 

 closely studied. When room is limited, they should be 

 mounted as flat as possible on a stout, wide shield, hung 

 with two screw-hooks, to prevent turning, when the weight 

 is uneven. Standard racks of walnut, with one or more 

 pairs of antlers tastefully attached, make popular orna- 

 ments for large halls. The large antlers are generally 

 placed at the bottom, and all are firmly mounted on a 

 carved middle standard piece. The tips of elk and deer 



