

HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 201 
Paris, two or three inches thick. When any skins are to be 
relaxed, fill the box with water, and in this condition allow 
it to stand over night; in the morning any water remaining 
can be poured off, and the skins placed within. The lid of 
the box, being grooved, will shut close, and the wooden sides 
will prevent evaporation from going on. The box should be 
set in some damp situation. In twenty-four or forty-eight 
hours the skins will be sufficiently soft and pliant for mount- 
ing. It is necessary before placing the skins within the box, 
to render the feet and the bill pliable, that these parts should 
be enclosed in dampened rags or tow. Before moistening, 
the body should be opened and the inside stuffing taken out 
With the forceps. Another method is to fill the skin (the 
former stuffing having been previously removed) with cot- 
ton or rags saturated with water, enveloping it with a damp 
cloth, having wrapped the bill and feet as above stated. The 
former is preferable, as the latter does not relax all the parts 
equally. In some cases, however, especially with those of 
the aquatic families, it is necessary to prepare them after the 
latter plan, and in this condition to place them in the box 
described above. 
The general method pursued in mounting dried skins is 
the same as that practiced upon fresh specimens. Difficulty 
18 often experienced in placing the leg wires in position from 
the dry and shrivelled condition of the tarsi; this may be 
overcome by perforating them with the awl used for that 
purpose (recommended in the former article upon mamma- 
lia) previous to inserting the wires. With many of the skins 
of South American birds, prepared by the natives, a proper 
adjustment of the wings:is found to be impossible. In this 
Case it is necessary to cut them off close to the body, and fix 
them anew. In replacing the wings the scapulars should be 
carefully arranged to effectually conceal the joining of the 
_ Wings. Any feathers disarranged in the operation should be 
_ Properly adjusted with the small forceps.— To be continued. 
AMER. NATURALIST, VOL. IH. 26 
