f 8 the taxidermist's guide. 



In towns the macerating vessels should always be*closely cov- 



ered, as from neglecting this the water U apt to get 



■&• Tf mixed with particles of soot and other impurities 



which have a strong tendency to blacken the bones. 



When the putrefaction has destroyed the ligaments, 



the bones are then fit for cleaning, which is clone 



by scraping off the flesh, ligaments and periosteum. 



When this is effected, the bones should be again laid 



in clean water for a few days and well washed ; they 



ought then to be placed in lime water or a solution of 



pearlash for a week, when they may be taken out to 



dry, after having soaked them five or six hours in 



pure water to remove the solution of pearlash which would act 



upon their surface when exposed to the atmosphere. 



Iu drying bones they should not be exposed to the rays of the 

 sun, or to a fire, as too great a degree of heat brings the remain- 

 ing medullary oil into the compact substance of the bones, and 

 gives them a disagreeable oily transparency. This is the great ob- 

 jection to the process of boiling bones, for the purpose of 

 making skeletons, as the heat applied in that way has the same 

 effect, unless they are boiled in a solution of pear-ash, which 

 some are of opinion is one of the most effectual methods of 

 whitening them by its effectually destroying the oil. But 

 there can be but little doubt that bleaching is, of all methods, 

 the most effectual where it can be done to its greatest advantage, 

 namely, in a pure air, and more especially on a sea shore. 



It is much more difficult to clean the bone3 of animals that 

 have died in good condition than those that are lean and reduced 

 by disease. 



NATURAL SKELETONS. 



Natural skeletons are made without separating the bones 

 from each other, in which case all animal ligaments are allowed 

 to remain entire. This plan is^ generally adopted, w T ith young 

 and small animals, because the ligaments when dry, being di- 

 vested of their natural flexibility, occasion an inconvenience, 

 as the different extents and varieties of motion cannot be shown 

 in the different articulations. 



