42 Handbook of Taxidermy. 



move all muscle from the remaining vertebrae. 

 Cut through the body at the base of the skull ; 

 clean brain cavity thoroughly, and remove eyes. 

 This latter operation may require some assistance 

 from the scissors, on the outside. All muscles 

 about the eyes and skull should be carefully re- 

 moved. When your skin is ready, poison it well 

 with the arsenic-alum powder. 



MOUNTING. 



The artificial body for your specimen may be 

 made of the same materials as used in stuffing 

 birds and mammals, of clay, plaster of Paris, or 

 the skin may be simply dried. A tow body may 

 be made and covered with a layer of clay, to give 

 it a smooth, even surface. You may form a 

 mould by ])ressing your specimen into damp 

 clay, allowing this to dry and then coating the 

 mould with colored varnish. When this is dry, 

 pour plaster of Paris of the consistency of cream 

 into the mould and let dry. The other side of 

 the fish must be treated in the same way, and the 

 two halves united by the solution of plaster. 

 When your body is ready, place it in the skin 



