98 MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 



the mouth until the snake is filled. It is well, how- 

 ever, to place a copper wire the entire length of the 

 animal to strengthen it ; then before the plaster is 

 set, place the snake in the proper attitude. This 

 kind of work requires practice, as you must be 

 careful of the attitude in which you wish to place 

 the animal, as the plaster begins to set quite 

 quickly ; to make it set more slowly, however, mix 

 in a little salt. The mouth should be filled up 

 with clay or plaster. Care should be taken that 

 water does not accumulate in any portion of the 

 skin, and it should be perforated with an awl occa- 

 sionally to allow the water to escape. The skin of 

 a snake may be filled with papier-mache by working 

 small pieces downward ; then insert a wire and 

 place into position. The skin requires some time 

 to dry, and in both cases place the mounted reptile 

 in a dry place, where it will rapidly dry, as the skin 

 is liable to decay if kept in a damp place. 



Section I. : Mounting Lizards, Alligators, 

 etc. — Reptiles of this description should be 

 skinned like mammals, through a longitudinal in- 

 sertion made in the abdomen. The skin from the 

 top of the head cannot be removed however. In 

 mounting, proceed exactly as in mammals, but as 

 there is no hair to hide defects, all cotton, excelsior, 



