MOUNTING IN GENERAL. • 43 



and if the case be nicely and closely made, there is no limit of 

 time to which the preservation of the specimen may not extend. 



METHOD OF MOUNTING DRIED SKINS. 



We must now say something respecting the setting up of skins 

 which have been preserved by travelers, and sent home from dis- 

 tant parts. 



The general method is exactly the same as in stuffing recent 

 specimens. There are, however, some preliminary steps, which 

 it is necessary to know. 



If the specimen sent home has been partially stuffed, our first 

 business is to undo the stitches, if it has been sewed — which was 

 an unnecessary process. We then remove the whole cotton or 

 tow from the inside, by the assistance of forceps, and from the 

 neck with a small piece of wire, twisted or hooked at the end. 

 Having finished this, small balls of wet cotton are placed in the 

 orbits of the eyes, and the legs and feet are wrapped round with 

 wet cotton cr linen rags. A damp cloth is then thrown over the 

 bird, and it is allowed to remain in this state till next day. The 

 neck and body are then filled with wet linen or cotton, and it will 

 be ready for commencing setting up in four or five hours. 



The eyes are now put in, as directed in the recent subjects, and 

 then stuffed in exactly the same manner. Some difficulty will, 

 however, be experienced with respect to the leg-wires, and it will 

 require more time and care, from the dryness of the legs, to get 

 the wire to penetrate. Having proceeded so far as to get the bird 

 generally formed, the wings are next adjusted ; this also is fre- 

 quently difficult, owing to the stiffness of the tendons, and want 

 of proper attention in skinning and drying them at first. Indeed, 

 with some of the South American birds, a proper adjustment of 

 the wings is found impracticable, owing to the attempts of the 

 native Indians of Guyana, who seldom dispose them properly. 



When these skins — frequently exceedingly valuable from their 

 rarity— are undone, to be remounted, it is oftentimes found utterly 

 impossible to get the wings to take a natural set, in which case 

 there is no other remedy but cutting them off close to the body, 

 and fixing them anew. The scapulars are separated, they are 

 softened with damp cloths, and then wrapped up with bands of 

 sheet lead, to give them a proper set. When we have got them in 



