224 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



liigli ; besides this, blood stains will sbow up, and tbe surface will 

 look of a soapy, greasy nature, instead of the ivory-like texture 

 it should assume. Be careful when working to the largest part, 

 or base of the horn, not to run your tool through, as it is much 

 thinner there than at the tips. 



Whilst thinning rough places in certain horns you will find a 

 half round and fiat fine rasp of great assistance. When you have 

 obtained a nice even surface all over, use glass paper of different 

 degrees of fineness, and pumice-stone. Collect the dust which 

 falls off, with a rag dipped in linseed oil and well rub the horn 

 with this. Next get some " putty powder " (oxide of tin), which 

 rub violently on all parts of the horn with a rag and linseed oil, 

 finally finishing off with brown paper, a soft rag, and the palm 

 of the hand, using plenty of " elbow grease." Remember, horn 

 polishing is all hard work, unless managed by "bobbing" on a 

 lathe, so let no one attempt it who is not prepared to work 

 very hard, as plenty of quick and violent friction is indis- 

 pensable in the latter stages to give the high polish requisite. 

 Horn may be softened, and ultimately dissolved in caustic soda. 



Polishing Tortoise-shell, &c. — To polish tortoise-shell 

 (which is in many cases turtle-shell) it is necessary to scrape the 

 shell very carefully with a broad knife, taking care not to cut 

 through to the under shell or " bone." When properly smoothed 

 rub it over with pumice-stone and water, then with bath-brick and 

 water, finally polishing off, when you have a nice fine surface, 

 with putty-powder and oil, or rotten-stone and oil, with plenty of 

 hard work and hand-polishing towards the last. A little tallow 

 rubbed in with the hand, as the very last finishing touch, will be 

 found of benefit. A paste made of sal volatile and rouge has been 

 recommended to be applied to the shell after scraping, then 

 suffered to remain imtil dry, and finally polished off. 



Bad places in the shell, where it has peeled or been broken off, 

 should be made up with coloured shellac, or hardened wax, put in 

 with a warmed knife after polishing, and finished off separately. 

 Tortoise-shell may be welded by heat. 



Sea shells may be polished by being plunged for a little time 

 in dilute nitric acid, then rubbed down with sand paper or fine 

 emery and oil, finished with " Water- Ayr" or " Snake-stone," and 

 finally polished with putty-powder and oil. A mussel-shell 



