50 
THE NATUKALIST’S GUIDE. 
ing the skin even to the tip of the phalanges of the wings ; 
then tie the wing-bones together, as explained in birds. 
Place the bat upon a flat board to dry, and pin its wings 
in the proper position for flight. When dry, stitch it upon 
a piece of card-board. 
While skinning mammals, it is sometimes necessary to 
use plaster to absorb the blood and other juices that are 
apt to flow ; but if care is taken not to cut the inner skin 
over the abdomen it will not be needed. It is also some- 
times necessary to plug the mouth and nostrils, especially 
if blood flows from them. 
Section III. Mounting Mammals. — The art of mount- 
ing mammals in lifelike attitudes can only be acquired by 
experience. Hence the learner must practise the utmost 
degree of patience and perseverance. As in the first 
chapter I earnestly advised those who would be perfect to 
study nature, I would here repeat that advice. And if 
necessary while endeavoring to mount a bird, where the 
feathers cover the minor defects, it is essentially much 
more of a necessity to study nature carefully while striv- 
ing to imitate the graceful attitudes and delicately formed 
limbs of the smaller species of mamtnalia, or the full 
rounded muscles and imposing attitudes of the larger 
ones ; for in mammals the thin coat of hair will tend rather 
to expose than hide the most minute imperfections. 
Perfectly stuffed specimens can only be obtained by care- 
ful measurements of all the parts, such as the size of the 
legs, body, etc. 
In skinning mammals to mount, it is best not to remove 
the skull. Open it on the occipital bone, so as to remove 
the brains ; clean well \ cover with arsenic ; then supply 
the muscles removed, by using hemp wound tightly on 
with thread. As the skin will shrink badly if it is stuffed 
loosely, carefully fill out the space occupied by the mus- 
cles of the legs in the same manner. Cut wires for the 
