

HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 481 
Craxirex unicinctus), the little Ground Dove, and the quaint 
Wood Ibis, called there “Colorado Turkey" (Tantalus locu- 
lator). 
My object has been to give merely a sketch of the pro- 
gress of the faunal seasons, as I saw them. 

HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 
. BY C. A. WALKER. 
[Concluded from page 201.] 
The method of skinning and mounting tortoises and turtles. 
—By examining the exterior covering of this order it will 
be seen that it consists of two horny plates or shields, which 
are closely united at the sides, forming a protection to the 
soft parts of the body ; the upper one is called the carapace, 
and the lower one the sternum or breast bone. Before com- 
mencing the operation of skinning it is necessary to sepa- 
rate these two plates by means of a strong knife, chisel, or 
other similar instrument, or a fine saw, taking great care to 
make the separation at the suture, as far as possible, and 
to avoid cracking the shell. After this operation has been 
finished remove all the flesh adhering to both the upper and 
under plates. The arrangement of the bones and muscles 
. differs so essentially from that of the other orders of verte- 
brates that attention should be given to this point in remov- 
ing the various parts. The fore and hind legs should be 
turned out, and all the flesh adhering to them removed, 
taking care not to separate these various parts from their 
attachments to the upper shell; also, the neck and head 
Should undergo the same operation, the brain and eyes being 
 Temoved. The inner surface should now be thoroughly 
Cleaned by means of a stiff brush, and the preservative ap- 
 Plied to every part, after which they may be restored to. 
1 
AMER. NATURALIST, VOL. III. 6 
