ON THE MOUNTING OF TURTLES. 
89 
and smoothly around with tow, forming a leg much smaller than 
the finished one will be. All the vacancy is to be supplied with 
the clay and tow mixture, which can be modelled into shape from 
the outside. It will he remembered that in the beginning it was 
noted that it would greatly facilitate the mounting to make a cut 
along the foot and under the lower part of the leg. Through 
this cut superfluous clay can be removed or additional clay intro- 
duced ; and it is a very easy matter to sew up this cut in such a 
manner as to render it practically invisible. The manipulation 
of clay will be found at first somewhat aggravating, as it will 
persist in going where it is not wanted rather than where it is ; 
hut without the use of such a material it is practically impos- 
sible to correctly mount a turtle. The neck-wire of turtles can 
be fastened to the head by running it into the occiput and down 
through the base of the skull, and then twisting it upon itself. 
Be careful to get enough clay on the upper, back portion of the 
skull to properly supply the great temporal muscles, as any defi- 
ciency there will create a very ugly, shrunken appearance. 
Modelling the neck and its junction with the fore legs is the most 
difficult part in mounting, and unfortunately no directions can 
be given which will insure success. The main thing, after the 
mechanical part of the work has been mastered, is to study well 
the form of the living and dead animal, and to strive to repro- 
duce that form exactly. “ That is good enough,” is a phrase I 
am sorry to say most of us use, for it is a very mischievous little 
sentence, and can usually be translated — that is 7iot good enough. 
There is no royal road to good taxidermy, nor can it be done by 
machinery, nor by the use of unlimited tools. Tools are a great 
help, but they are only a help, and to do good work you must 
be careful, thoughtful, and observant. Without those requisites, 
although your work may be good enough, it will never be good. 
Occasionally in the making of groups, or in mounting specimens 
for museum purposes, it is needful to place a turtle in a swim- 
ming attitude. In such cases the work of procedure is the same 
as that previously described in the paper on mounting Crustacea. 
A block of wood is fastened in the body to which all the wires 
are attached, and to this is secured a rod of sufficient size to bear 
the weight of the finished piece. 
A word in regard to finishing. Sea-turtles, snapping turtles. 
