MOUNTING REPTILES, ETC. 
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etc., wound on the bones must be very smooth. 
The attitudes of all this class of animals are apt to 
be stiff and ungainly even in life ; but by putting a 
bend or two into the tail, turning the head, or 
slightly curving the body, too much rigidness 
may be avoided. 
Section II. : Mounting Turtles. — To re- 
move the skin from a turtle, cut away a square 
portion of the under shell, using a small saw for 
this purpose. Then remove the softer portion 
through this hole, and draw out the legs and head 
as in mammals ; but the top of the head cannot be 
skinned over. In mounting proceed as nearly as 
possible as in mammals, only the legs may be filled 
with clay or plaster in small specimens. Care 
should be taken not to fill the skin too full ; but 
let the wrinkles show, as seen in life, and imitated 
as nearly as possible. 
The shell of the soft-shelled turtle, like the 
leather-back, is quite difficult to keep in good 
condition — is apt to become distorted in drying. 
The only method which has occurred to me is to 
cover the body, and exposed under portions, with 
layers of plaster, which will keep the shell in 
position until it is dry, when it may be removed. 
Section III. : Mounting Fishes. — Fishes are 
