Preparing Fishes and Reptiles. 43 



and sew up. Place the specimen in the required 

 position and fasten to a board by stout pins 

 driven on each side. Spread the fins, tail, etc., 

 by means of the wooden clamps already men- 

 tioned (Fig. 3, L), and set the specimen away to 

 dry. A very convenient way of treating many 

 specimens, especially hard-scaled fish, is to bring 

 the sides of the opening together by a few 

 stitches, and glue a strip of cloth the entire 

 length of the incision. Before this is done, how- 

 ever, the end of the tail beyond the anus must 

 be stuffed out with cotton. Take a few stitches 

 through the gills to hold them down while dry- 

 ing. Now place a tin tunnel in the fish's mouth, 

 and fill out the skin with fine sand. Place a wad 

 of cotton in the throat, to keep the sand in ; put 

 the specimen in the desired position ; remove the 

 tissue paper with sponge and water; and set 

 your specimen away for several weeks, to dry. 

 When you are ready to mount your specimen, 

 make several small holes in it, to let the sand out, 

 and when quite empty fasten to a board ; mount 

 in a case, or in anyway which your taste may 

 suggest. It is sometimes desirable to retain 



