IOO MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 



quite difficult to skin, especially those with scales. 

 In flat fishes I remove a portion of one side, 

 skinning the other; then, in mounting, lay the 

 animal on its side. Mounting in this case means 

 filling the fish to its natural life-size with cotton, 

 tow, or other available material. Plaster or clay 

 will also answer. The fins may be pinned out flat 

 against pasteboard, or put in place with fine wire. 



In skinning larger fishes, or those which have 

 no scales, or scaled fishes which have cylindrical 

 shaped bodies, open from beneath by cutting nearly 

 the whole length of the body. The skin from 

 some fishes comes off easily, while in others it is 

 more difficult to remove. In mounting large fishes 

 use a hard core to the body, made of either wire or 

 wood. The fins should be wired from the inside; 

 care should be taken that the skin lies smoothly 

 over the surface beneath, as it shows considerably 

 m drying, and all imperfections around it. 



In preserving the skins of all reptiles and fishes 

 the dermal will be found excellent, especially in 

 removing the oil from the skins, etc. Cover well 

 with the preservative, and nothing more will be 

 necessary. Skins of this class of animals may be 

 kept for future mounting by simply coating with the 

 preservative, and kept turned wrong side out with- 



