168 



PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



smaller tlian you wish it, in order to allow for its subsequent 

 covering with. clay. From this proceed to model the limbs as 

 before, using plaster over the tow, and clay over all; next 

 arrange the tail, and, lastly, fix on the skull, if you possess it, or 

 the plaster head, which has been modelled and cast in the same 

 manner as the stag's head. The skin is then fitted on as before, 

 with the difference that the head part, which, perhaps, is split 

 right through the chin, and the tail, split up its whole length, 

 will come on more easily, but will of course require more sewing 

 up. "When finished, adjust the claws, the mane, the ears 

 (blocked with zinc as in the stag), and the mouth. 

 Should it be wished to open the mouth to express 

 rage or what not, the edges of the skin of the 

 mouth, being no doubt destitute (in a " flat " skin) 

 of their inner lining (the mucous membrane), must 

 have this replaced by wash leather sewn all 

 around to form the " bags " of each side of the 

 lips, previously mentioned, at pp. 137-138-145. 

 These " bags " are then filled with clay or model- 

 ing wax, and when the skin is put on over the 

 skull, are pinched into proper shape and attached 

 by their inner edges to where the gums should 

 be, or around convenient teeth by stitches, or by 

 strong wire points driven into the bone, in the 

 manner which will best commend itself to the 

 learner. Suffer it to dry, looking at it from time 

 to time, and when perfectly dried model the 

 palate, &c. (should the animal be represented 

 open-mouthed), in the manner described in Chapter 

 XII. So great a mass of damp clay used on these large animals 

 is apt to crack ; paper may advantageously be pasted over the 

 whole surface before the skin is put on, which will stick we^I 

 and not interfere with the modelling. 



Plate lY. represents a lion mounted by this method : A, B, the 

 skull; C, the neck rod (sometimes two) ; D, E, and F, the body- 

 board ; G, the tail rod ; and 1, 2, 3, and 4, the rods representing 

 the parts H, I, J, K, L, and M, N, 0, P, Q, in Plate III. 



The last process of all is mounting, by means of a model 

 skeleton of carved wood, supplemented by iron rods. This is a> 



Fis. 33.— Sec- 

 tion OF Half- 

 inch Board to 

 repbe sent 



KiBS. 



