ON THE MOIJJSITING OF TURTLES. 
87 
The smaller turtles may be mounted immediately after 
skinning, but all preferably, and the large ones invariably, should 
be soaked for a few days in the usual bath of salt and alum. 
Always poison thoroughly, especially around the feet and back 
of head. 
As the skinning of a sea-turtle has been first described, it is 
consequently in order to proceed with the mounting. It must 
be borne in mind that the skin of turtles shrinks considerably in 
drying, and the sewing should therefore be done very solidly ; 
also all wrinkles should be somewhat exaggerated, as they disap- 
pear in drying. Therefore a turtle must not be filled out, but 
the skin should be left loose and the apparent excess will vanish. 
The main principles in mounting large turtles are similar to 
those in mounting mammals, except that as sea-turtles lie flat on 
the ground much lighter wires may be used. First, make the tail, 
by winding coarse tow on an iron rod until it has the same shape 
but not quite the size of the original. Now cover this with clay, 
prepared according to Mr. Hornaday’s directions, by mixing with 
soft clay a quantity of finel^^-chopped tow. Lay it in the skin and 
sew up, beginning at the tip of the tail and working towards the 
body, adding or subtracting clay here and there as occasion may 
require. Form in a general way the larger folds or wrinkles of 
the skin, leaving the finer markings until the animal is on its 
pedestal. Always decide the position of the finished piece be- 
fore commencing work, and bend all your irons and shape the 
legs, neck, and tail with that predetermined form in view. Re- 
member that turtles swim and walk with the same movements as 
do most animals — the right fore and left hind leg moving to- 
gether. 
The tail being finished, proceed with the hind legs, making so 
far as possible the same bends in the wires that are to be in the 
joints of the leg when finished, and tying the wire securely to the 
bones. Wrap the legs with coarse tow, taking care not to get 
the lower part too round. But little pains need be taken with 
the upper part of the leg, as it is concealed witliin tlie body, and 
most of the lower portion, as well as the “ paddle,” will need to 
be made with clay in order to insure a proper degree of flatness. 
If the animal is sufficiently small the three hinder wires may be 
