26 
HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 
endeavoring not to burst the former, as the humors contained 
within would then ooze out, and flowing through the eyelids, soil 
the feathers upon the head. Next cut away the tongue, together 
wdth the flesh beneath the mandibles and upon the various parts 
of the head, and through an opening made in the lower part of 
the skull carefully remove the brain. It is well to remark here 
that the heads of some birds are so large in comparison with the 
neck, as to render it impossible for the head to be turned out in 
the ordinary way without stretching the skin. In this case the ver¬ 
tebrae of the neck should be separated close to the skull, the body 
taken out and laid aside and the head pulled back into its natural 
position. An incision is then made through the skin upon the 
back of the head, large enough to permit the passage of the skull, 
and this should then be cleaned in the same manner as stated 
above. Ducks, woodpeckers, flamingoes, macaws, etc., come 
under this rule. After the presevative has been applied to eveiy 
part, and the cavities of the brain and eye filled with cotton, res¬ 
tore it to position, being careful to sew up the incision neatly. 
The wings should next be turned out, exposing two joints. The 
humerus may then be removed, but the double bone, consisting of 
the radius and the ulna, should be carefully cleaned and allowed 
to remain. Many taxidermists prefer to have all the bones left in 
their places. This, I think, should be a rule in preparing dried 
skins, as the wings retain their position better; but when a skin 
is to be mounted at once, I remove the humerus, and then find it 
much easier to set them. It is also a practice with many, in lieu 
of turning the wings, to make a longitudinal incision beneath the 
wing, running the length of the first joints, and through this to 
remove the flesh. Lastly, the legs should be skinned, removing 
all the flesh, and leaving in the fibula or thigh bone. If the 
skin is to be mounted at once, annoirit it thoroughly with pow¬ 
dered arsenic applied with the sifter; but if not, use the arsenical 
soap, because it can then be softened more readily when required 
for mounting. Fill the eye-sockets and cavity of the skull with 
cotton. Restore the leg and wing bones to position. To accom¬ 
plish the latter, take hold of the tips of each, and pulling them 
from each other, they will easily slip into place. In turning the 
head back, take hold of the twine which is fastened to the bill, 
pulling it gently and steadily, working with the fingers when nec¬ 
essary, taking great care not to stretch or tear the skin of the 
