


























HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 195 
may then be removed by passing the blade of the scalpel 
beneath the ball and severing the optic nerve, endeavoring 
not to burst the former, as the humors contained within 
would then ooze out, and flowing through the eyelids, soil 
the feathers upon the head. Next cut away the tongue, 
together with the flesh beneath the mandibles and upon the 
various parts of the head, and through an opening made in 
the lower part of the skull carefully remove the brain. It is 
well to remark here that the heads of some birds are so large 
in comparison with the neck, as to render it impossible for 
the head to be turned out in the ordinary way without 
stretching the skin. In this case the vertebre of the neck 
should be separated close to the skull, the body taken out 
sad laid aside, and the head pulled back into its natural 
position. An incision is then made through the skin upon 
the back of the head, large enough to permit the passage of 
the skull, and. this Should then be cleaned in the same man- 
. her as stated above. Ducks, woodpeckers, flamingoes, ma- 
caws, ete., come under this rule. After the preservative 
has been applied to every part, and the cavities of the brain 
and eye filled with cotton, restore it to position, being care- 
il to sew up the incision neatly. The wings should next 
be turned out, exposing two joints. The humerus may then be 
removed, but the double bone, consisting of the radius and 
the ulna, should be earefully cleaned and allowed to remain. 
Many taxidermists prefer to have all the bones left in their 
Places. This, I think, should be a rule in preparing dried 
skins, as the wings retain their position better; but when 
* skin is to be mounted at once, I remove the humerus, and 
ie then find it much easier to set them. It is also a practice 
with many, in lieu of turning the wings, to make a longitudi- 

m Joints, and through this to remove the flesh. Lastly, 
Me legs should be skinned, removing all the flesh, and leav- 
ang in the fibula or thigh bone. If the skin is to be mounted 
' Once, anoint it thoroughly with powdered arsenic ap- 
hal incision beneath the wing, running the length of the two - 

