162 PEACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



becomes when thoroughly dry ; clay of the same sized m.odel is, 

 on the contrary, exceedingly heavy — more than twice the weight 

 of piaster. Sometimes it may be necessary, if wanting a frill 

 of hair, or what not, to be conspicuous, to keep it in position 

 until dry, by brushing on paste, or thick clay water, to stiffen 

 the hair in the desired manner. This can afterwards be brushed 

 off, when the head is ultimately cleansed, before screwing 

 it on its shield. Foxes' and other similar heads may be 

 blocked best by the process sketched out as relating to Figs. 26 

 and 27: and finally attached to suitable shields (see Chapter 

 XIII.) 



Looking at the skeleton of the otter, Plate III., we at once 

 observe that it is placed in the position it assumed when the 

 animal was alive and walking with a stealthy, cat-like, movement. 

 This skeleton is not very unlike that of the fox, nor, if we except 

 its smaller size, that of the lion. Hence we shall be enabled to 

 refer to it, from time to time, as being sufficiently our guide to 

 the mounting of these animals. "We will not be too ambitious to 

 begin with, and will, therefore, take our old friend the fox for our 

 first lesson. This is the animal sure to be selected by all learners, 

 and the reason is not far to seek — it being of a manageable size, 

 not too large nor too small ; an animal, moreover, of a x^ictur- 

 esque habit of body, and about whose death more or less of 

 mystery hangs — this mystery so dear to the imagination of the 

 youthful amateur! In some places the death of the vulpine 

 robber of hen roosts is hailed with delight, and people are to be 

 found even — oh, horror ! — willing to grasp in friendship the hand 

 of the slayer. In such a county as Leicestershire, foxes are not 

 *' accidentally " killed, but when so, what bewailings over the " late 

 lamented ! " what anathemas upon the villain's head who is sus- 

 pected of " vulpicide " ! If it were not so serious a matter, one 

 would be inclined to laugh over Anthony Trollope's description^ 

 in the "American Senator," of the old hunting farmer who 

 moved himself and his dinner to the other side of the table, in 

 speechless indignation, lest he should be contaminated by the 

 presence of a sympathiser with a man who wantonly killed a far 

 too sacred fox, which gobbled up the aforesaid man's ducks and 

 fowls. Let this sad relation be a warning to all who look with 

 acquisitive eyes on the scented jacket of our "Beynard." 



