84 : 
80C. OF AM. TAXIDERMISTS, ANNUAL REPORT. 
tliej often dry partially out of shape, and the skin proves hut 
an inditferent one, whereas it may have been neatly made. 
Outside of a few points in making np a skin, Mdiicb, of (;onrse, 
it is necessary to know in order to do good work, carefulness 
during almost the whole process, and especially after the bird is 
skinned, is almost the only advice that can be given, and if 
closely followed will lie sure to give good results. Do not be 
in too much of a hurry, and I might say neither be too slow, for 
the latter is unnecessary; and, after a little practice, good work 
can be done rapidly to a certain extent, and the results will more 
than pay for the pains taken during the operation. 
ON THE MOUNTING OF TURTLES. 
BY BEEBEKIC A. LUCAS. 
In presenting this paper on the mounting of turtles, I must at 
the outset state that I lay no claim to originality, my sole credit, 
if credit it be, lying in the selection and combination of the best 
points in a number of processes. 
For general principles in this, as in all other branches of taxi- 
dermy, I am indebted to my friend Mr.*Bailly, for the methods 
of skinning tortoises to Mr. Webster, and for the use of clay to 
Mr. Hornaday. 
For skinning purposes* turtles may like Gaul be divided into 
three groups. First, the sea-turtles, liaving a moderate sized lower 
shell or plastron, feet in the form of paddles, and legs, which 
like the short neck, are practically non-retractile ; second, tliose 
which, like the snapping turtle, have a small plastron and neck 
and legs largely retractile ; and, lastly, turtles with a large un- 
der shield, and the power to draw the neck and legs quite under 
cover. This third group comprises the large majority of turtles, 
and unfortunately those most difficult to skin. A word as to the 
* That portion of this article relative to the skinning of turtles originally aI^- 
peared in a condensed form in Ward’s Nat. Science Bulletin, and I am indebted 
to Prof. Ward for the use of the accompanying diagrams. 
