2o8 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



with a brick or stone ; no metal must on any account be used 

 to do this, or, as with the vessel, rust or stain will make its 

 appearance and spoil the specimen. In very cold weather use a 

 little warm water, but it must be kept where it will not freeze ; 

 and, at any time, warm water is more efficacious in relaxing 

 than cold. If the skin is suspected to be tender or old, put a 

 little vinegar or stronger acid in the water. When the skin has 

 been in the water for a length of time varying from hours to 

 days, according to size, take it out and, if the opening be sewn 

 up, search for the stitches, cut them and remove the " stuffing," 

 but not before the skin is thoroughly relaxed, or the stuffing will 

 adhere to it and tear it. 



The skin must now be drained thoroughly on a sloping 

 board, and, whilst yet damp, be well wiped down with benzo- 

 line, and treated with plaster to be subsequently beaten out as 

 described at p. i68, but on no account must the plaster be put 

 on the wet feathers until they have been well dressed in every 

 part with benzoline. The skin having been permitted to He for 

 some considerable time in plaster, this should be removed and 

 fresh substituted, until, when beaten out, the feathers come 

 into proper order and appearance, whilst the skin itself is just 

 damp enough to allow of its being set up as though it were a 

 fresh specimen. 



The subsequent setting-up depends upon whether the skin 

 has been made as directed for the hard-body system or for 

 the soft-body method, as is the case with most. In the former 

 instance, the made body is entirely removed, but the head, if 

 properly modelled, is left intact, a fresh body is made, and the 

 bird set up, cottoned, and finished as previously directed, whilst, 

 in the latter event, the wool or other packing is removed, the 

 skin turned inside out, even to the head, and scraped, if at 

 all fat, as all ducks' skins and some others are, the head is 

 modelled, and the bird set up. , 



