l^O PEACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



liead. At some little distance from this (wliicli will be deteraiiiied 

 hy the size of the fish), form a smaller loop, to which, by twisting, 

 attach a short piece of wire a size smaller than the main bearer. 

 At some distance from this — near the tail — form another small 

 loop, to which attach in the same manner another piece of wire. 

 Out oE the end of the main wire, so that when pointed and 

 pushed through it will fall just outside the bone of the tail. It 

 will no doubt be obvious to the reader that this forms an 

 artificial bacjibone. The large oval or pear-shaped loop at the 

 one end is intended to be pushed in to support the head, and, 

 in the present method, also to help the formation of the model. 

 The loops and attached wires are to support the body, and also 

 to bolt it to the back of the case when finished. The pointed 

 end is to push into and support the tail. 



1 should have previously mentioned that this wire backbone 

 should be made before the fish is skinned, as you then have a 

 correct guide to position of bearing wire, and, more important 

 still, a guide to the extreme length of the fish. 



Round this wire, wrap paper, glued, or tied with string, until it 

 is a little less than the body of the fish previously taken out ; 

 when this is done, cover over with tow well tied on with hemp, 

 until it has arrived at almost the shape and size of the body — 

 being, in fact, the shape of the fish without head or tail — lay this 

 down and thoroughly anoint all parts of the fish. Stuff out the 

 now hollow sides of the face, gums, and the underneath of the 

 throat with putty, of which push some thick pads underneath 

 the root of tbe tail and all about the fins ; next lay a thin skin of 

 putty over the whole of the skin on the inside. 



Wet plaster is commonly used for this, but I prefer putty, as 

 not being quite so heavy, and as affording also a more agreeable 

 agent to work with. Another objection to plaster, used in 

 quantities, is that the heat it evolves in drying has a tendency to 

 make the scales rise. 



The next thing to be done is to insert the body. Pushing the 

 sharpened end of the tail wire through the bone of the tail, bring 

 it up on the inside. Now drill a little hole with a straight awl 

 through the bone of the scapular arch, and with a strong needle 

 and thread join that part together. The next hole should be 

 drilled through the uppermost gill- cover, through which pass the 



