56 Methods of preparing Natural Skeletons of Birds . 
times larger birds, of a bad colour, must be kept in the solution 
nearly a week. When the skeleton is removed from the solution 
of alum, the ligaments will be found to have become much stiff¬ 
ened, though not so much but that the skeleton can be easily 
put into position. The next step is to wash the skeleton slightly 
under a tap of water, if convenient, or if not, in a basin; this 
prevents the crystals of alum forming on the outside of the 
bones when dry. It is now ready for mounting, and will be 
easily brought into the position in which it is wished to be 
arranged in the following way :—Having fixed the feet to a stand, 
prepare a flat board, and upon it an upright square or rounded 
piece of wood, with numerous holes drilled horizontally through 
it at different distances, in which wire-pegs can be inserted, so as 
to be moveable to different heights. Fasten the second vertebra 
of the skeleton to the topmost peg with a thread, and other 
parts of the skeleton to such wire-pegs as may be found con¬ 
venient, according to the attitude necessary. When the skeleton 
is dry, it will merely require to be varnished with mastic varnish, 
and is then complete. It is generally better to remove the head, 
for greater convenience in cleansing out the brain; this may be 
easily fastened on again with a piece of wire. 
The most difficult skeletons to clean are those which have 
been dried with much flesh left on them, particularly when it 
has remained on them for any length of time. It is sometimes 
almost impossible to succeed in bringing the bones of such 
skeletons to a good colour. In this case macerate the bones 
first in plain water, and remove as much of the flesh as possible. 
Then place the skeleton in a strong solution of carbonate of 
potash, or even, if requisite, in a weaker one of caustic potash, 
though this only for a very few hours. Remove any flesh that 
could not previously be taken off, and then macerate it again in 
water for about twenty-four hours. The treatment is afterwards 
the same as in that of fresh skeletons. Those skeletons that 
have been previously slightly macerated will be found to be 
much more easily prepared than those that have not been dipped 
in water at all before packing, as in the former case the re¬ 
maining flesh does not become nearly so hard and impervious 
to water. 
