9 8 
MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 
the mouth until the snake is filled. It is well, how- 
ever, to place a copper wire the entire length of the 
animal to strengthen it ; then before the plaster is 
set, place the snake in the proper attitude. This 
kind of work requires practice, as you must be 
careful of the attitude in which you wish to place 
the animal, as the plaster begins to set quite 
quickly ; to make it set more slowly, however, mix 
in a little salt. The mouth should be filled up 
with clay or plaster. Care should be taken that 
water does not accumulate in any portion of the 
skin, and it should be perforated with an awl occa- 
sionally to allow the water to escape. The skin of 
a snake may be filled with papier-mache by working 
small pieces downward ; then insert a wire and 
place into position. The skin requires some time 
to dry, and in both cases place the mounted reptile 
in a dry place, where it will rapidly dry, as the skin 
is liable to decay if kept in a damp place. 
Section I. : Mounting Lizards, Alligators, 
etc. — Reptiles of this description should be 
skinned Like mammals, through a longitudinal in- 
sertion made in the abdomen. The skin from the 
top of the head cannot be removed however. In 
mounting, proceed exactly as in mammals, but as 
there is no hair to hide defects, all cotton, excelsior, 
