IOO 
MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 
quite difficult to skin, especially those with scales. 
In flat fishes I remove a portion of one side, 
skinning the other; then, in mounting, lay the 
animal on its side. Mounting in this case means 
filling the fish to its natural life-size with cotton, 
tow, or other available material. Plaster or clay 
will also answer. The fins may be pinned out flat 
against pasteboard, or put in place with fine wire. 
In skinning larger fishes, or those which have 
no scales, or scaled fishes which have cylindrical 
shaped bodies, open from beneath by cutting nearly 
the whole length of the body. The skin from 
some fishes comes off easily, while in others it is 
more difficult to remove. In mounting large fishes 
use a hard core to the body, made of either wire or 
wood. The fins should be wired from the inside ; 
care should be taken that the skin lies smoothly 
over the surface beneath, as it shows considerably 
m drying, and all imperfections around it. 
In preserving the skins of all reptiles and fishes 
the dermal will be found excellent, especially in 
removing the oil from the skins, etc. Cover well 
with the preservative, and nothing more will be 
necessary. Skins of this class of animals may be 
kept for future mounting by simply coating with the 
preservative, and kept turned wrong side out with- 
