20 



THE TAXIDERMIST'S GUIDE. 



this way, by its contracting, the solution should have about an 

 eighth part of ox-gall mixed with it, and the surface of any body 

 to be vanished should be washed with ox-gall and water before 

 the varnish is applied, which will, almost to a certainty, prevent 

 it from cracking and falling off. It must, however, be thoroughly 

 dried before the varnish is applied. 



We may here state, that an animal the size of a Fox or a Cat, 

 may be skinned, prepared, and finally set up, in the space of four 

 or five hours, by a person who has had a little practice in the art 

 of Taxidermy, and that from ten to fifteen minutes are all that 

 will be required to skin an animal of the size just mentioned. 



CHAPTER II. 



SKINNING, PRESERVING, AND MOUNTING BIRDS. 



SKINNING. 



Immediately after a Bird is killed, the throat and nostrils should 



be stuffed with tow, cotton, or fine rags, and a small quantity 



wound round the bill, to prevent the blood from staining the 



Fig. 2. 



Manner of holding the hands in skinning a Bird. 



