MOUNTING MAMMALS. 95 



any Bones. — If the skull of a mammal be desired 

 for a skeleton, a cast may be taken of the entire 

 head before the flesh is removed, by placing the 

 head in a box which will contain it and leave a 

 space around it ; pour in plaster of paris to the 

 consistency of cream, until the head is about half 

 covered — which should be placed on the bottom of 

 the box, lower jaw down — let the plaster set ; now 

 cover the top surface of the plaster with paint, or 

 oil, or paste paper over it. Then fill up the box 

 with fresh plaster : after this has set well remove 

 the side of the box and open the mould where the 

 joint was made with the paint or paper. Take out 

 the head, and then cut a hole in the mould at the 

 base of the skull, in which the plaster for the head 

 may be poured. Paint or oil the inside of the 

 mould everywhere, fit the pieces together, then 

 tie firmly and pour in the plaster for the mould ; 

 then insert the bolt for the head in the hofe, and 

 let the plaster set around it. Remove the mould 

 by chipping off pieces with a chisel until the paint 

 surface is exposed. If the head be large and heavy, 

 a large ball of excelsior, in which the bolt is firmly 

 fastened, may be placed in the centre, but this 

 must be covered with a thin layer of clay to make it 

 impervious to plaster. The lips and other naked 



