260 PEACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



screens in framed bamboo. Tbe first represented a string of large 

 fresh-water fish depending from a branch, of a tree, a creel, a 

 rod, a landing-net, and other angling gear. " The Gun " showed 

 a fine bittern and heron, and, I think, some other birds, also 

 depending from a branch, with a gun and some old-fashioned 

 tools (powder-flask, &c.) included. 



" Screens " filled with corals and sponges {Eu;plectellce, &c.) 

 would be very handsome and useful. I am not sure whether 1 

 have seen any managed in this manner. 



Yery handsome " screens " for the mantelpiece may be made 

 up from owls, hawks, seagulls, and a variety of other birds. The 

 birds being skinned out through an opening in the back, the 

 wings and tail are cut off and spread out on a board, with fine 

 needle points driven through their webs until the pair of wings— 

 the butts or shoulders placed inward — assume the shape of a long 

 oval ; the tail is fully spread by the same means, and wings and 

 tail are "wrapped" with cotton and left to dry. The head and 

 breast are stuffed independently of these and sewn up. When all 

 is ready, a handle of about Sin. to lOin. long by ^in. square must 

 be turned out of ivory, ebony, or any wood desired. One end of 

 this should be turned the full thickness of the wood for about 

 l^in. from the top, then drilled with two holes through its 

 diameter, and a slot cut of ^in. in width longitudinally for the 

 full length of the l^in. to receive a thin piece of oval shaped deal 

 about 4in. long by 2iin. broad by ^in. thick, which should have 

 a silken loop attached, and a piece of blue or other coloured 

 silk stretched over it, and the edges of the silk tucked under 

 the wood and attached by paste ; this latter is then fixed to the 

 handle by rivets running through the two holes previously drilled. 

 The wings and tail are now glued and pinned to the uncovered 

 p)art of tbe thin wood, the shoulders of the wing inward, the tail 

 radiating from the bottom. On top of these comes the body 

 (also wired and glued) fitting in the small space left between 

 the wings. The silk during the fixing of the wings, tail, and 

 head, should be protected by paper pasted over all, and which 

 •can be removed when the screen is finished. 



Screens are also made of single large birds, such as the 

 peacock, or swan and heron; these are stuffed in the same 

 manner as above, but instead of being attached to handles 



