74 : 
SOC. OF AM. TAXIDERMISTS, AXNUIAL REPORT. 
But in order that we may have such we must encourage those 
who work in this line — the Landseers, the Baryes, the Wolfs, the 
Speehts, &c., whom, under a change of name, we have in this 
country in the Beards, the Kemeyses, &c. We must make it 
profitable for them to undertake the work we so much need, and 
if we have the good of taxidermy at heart, if we have faith in 
its capabilities as an art we will do this, for in so doing we are 
helping and ourselves, as well as them. 
ON THE MOUNTING OF CRUSTACEANS. 
BY PBEDEEIC A. LUCAS. 
The mounting of crabs, lobsters, and other crustaceans is some- 
what of a thankless task, requiring an outlay of considerable time 
and trouble to arrive at results at all satisfactory. At first sight 
it would seem an easy matter to mount an animal whose form is 
determined beforehand, but a little trial develops the fact that, 
like bringing up children, it is mucli easier in theory than in 
practice. As crustaceans dry they become very brittle, and the 
small legs and delicate feelers break only too readily. Worse than 
all, the beautiful colors with which these creatures are adorned 
while living fade rapidly, and the only way in which they can be 
renewed is by a dextrous use of paint. Therefore, the great requi- 
sites for mounting crustaceans are a careful touch, a good eye for 
colors, and some knowledge of the proper methods of applying 
them. The preparation of crustaceans is a little peculiar, inasmuch 
as, instead of the skin being removed from the body, the body is 
removed piecemeal from the skin. The first step in this process 
is to detach the carapace or covering of the back, and this, in 
many crabs, is a work of considerable time and patience. Com- 
mence by inserting a knife-blade — an ordinary table-knife is 
good — at the junction of the body with the tail and work it care- 
fully around the hinder portion of the shell until it is detached. 
Now pry up the back portion of the shell, cutting away the at- 
tachments as fast as they can be reached, and the carapace will 
