MOUNTING IN GENERAL. 47 



intense browns and blacks, which, arc not so easily absorbed by 

 light cr air, so that they continue for a very long period without 

 any sensible difference. There are, however, certain other points 

 which are liable to almost immediate change of color after the 

 death of the animals, and these are the cere and skin of the legs 

 and feet, and the naked skin on the heads and necks of Vultures 

 and their congeners. "We shall treat of these individually. 



Now, as all these colors which we have described are liable to 

 change, immediately after death, it is evident that considerable 

 nicety will be required "to give the preserved specimen the ap- 

 pearance of nature. These must, therefore, be supplied artificially 

 with the varnish colors, which we have particularly described in 

 their proper place, as also the combinations for the formation of 

 compound colors. The reddish-brown color mentioned, of which 

 the fold is composed, must be touched by a mixture of the scarlet 

 varnish, with a little powdered burnt umber, and the blue streaks 

 with which it is traversed, colored above with cobalt blue. All 

 the varnish colors have a tendency to shine, which, it will be 

 evident, is not the character of any part of the skin, or earuncle 

 of the bird described. As soon, therefore, as it is thoroughly 

 dry, which will be in about an hour, the whole surface must be 

 gently rubbed with very fine sand paper, which will completely 

 remove the gloss and give the appearance of nature. 



Some nicety will be required in painting betwixt the hairs, 

 but it can be easily managed with a little caution. Sometimes 

 these hairs are liable to become brown, in which case they can 

 be touched with the black varnish. 



As these birds are inhabitants of warm climates, some care is 

 requisite, after killing them, to prevent decay ; the tendons of the 

 legs should be extracted to prevent their being attacked by 

 moths, and their place supplied by some cotton and preserva- 

 tives. The tendons are extracted by means of a longitudinal 

 incision made behind the tarsus. The edges of this incision can 

 easily be brought together when the bird is under the process of 

 preparation. 



