17 
Filling and Wrapping Materials 
Cotton batting is commonly employed for filling small skins of mam- 
mals and birds. It is economical and desirable to have two or three grades. 
For the smallest skins, as shrews, and for wrapping tails of mice, filling 
eye-cavities, etc., it is well to have a small roll of the finest grade of 
surgical cotton or jeweller’s cotton. A half-pound roll will last a long 
time. For wrapping the legs, making bodies of small mammals and birds, 
and packing small, delicate specimens, it is important to use a good grade 
of cotton batting, without lumps, as lumpy cotton will cause a roughness 
in the made-up skin after it has dried. Cotton that can be peeled off in 
thin sheets is essential for wrapping bird skins, and it can be used again 
and again. For larger specimens and for packing around dried skins, a 
cheaper grade of cotton will do. 
Fine tow makes a very good stuffing material for study skins, and if 
good quality tow with long, soft fibres is procurable, it may be substituted 
for cotton in most cases. Fine excelsior (stringy wood shavings) forms a 
very good filler for large bird skins, but is not very good for mammal skins, 
except for purely temporary purposes. Mammals larger than a small fox 
or woodchuck are generally best prepared in a flat state and subsequently 
put through a regular tanning process. Tanning, however, is a shop and 
laboratory process and need not be considered in the field. Oakum, dry 
moss, fine dry grass, or any soft vegetable material may be used for filling, 
but wool or other animal substances should be avoided as insects may 
attack them and destroy the specimen. 
Mr. Charles H. M. Barrett, taxidermist of the U.S. Biological Survey, 
recommends carrying some finely chopped tow mixed with excelsior and 
fluffed up by placing the chopped material in a container that has a closed 
top. Compressed air is applied for a few moments under moderate pressure. 
This will fluff up the mass to an even consistency and it can then be pressed, 
rolled, or felted into shape. Mr. Barrett does not think it is better than 
cotton for making small bird skins, but in some instances it works well in 
small mammal skins. In making up large- and medium-sized bird skins 
it is useful in filling in parts like eye-sockets, sides, and root of tail. He 
uses a container made from a 5-pound lard tin, with a covering made of 
8-ounce duck or canvas with a hole cut in the centre to receive the air hose. 
The hole is made round, sewn with buttonhole stitch until it makes a tight 
fit for the air hose. To make the canvas airtight it can be waxed or 
shellacked on the area covering the rim of the tin. The cover should be 
made large enough to overlap the rim of the tin for 2 or 3 inches and may 
be tied down with a piece of hard twisted cotton twine. The fluffed filling 
may be made in quantity and carried to the field in tins or boxes to be 
used as needed. If large quantities are needed it might be well to use a large 
container with a tight metal top with a piece of pipe extending about 
halfway down and projecting from the top about 2 inches for attachment 
of air hose or pipe. 
Cheesecloth is the best material for wrapping large bird skins for 
drying, and the collector should take about 10 yards of cheesecloth on a 
field trip for wrapping skins as well as for keeping blowflies off specimens 
and fresh provisions. It also comes in handy for washing and wiping 
specimens, wrapping fish specimens, or any emergency in which a piece 
of soft cloth is needed. 
