Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 90.djvu/197

 The Various Steps in Taxidermy

���The greatest difficulty in movinting birds is to remove the skin without injuring the plumage. A bird is opened imder the wing. After the body is removed the skin is painted inside with a preservative

��Preparing to skin the deer's head. Some- times a mold is prepared to take the place of the natural bones of the head. The skin is drawn over it and padded out with tow to correct any irregularities of contour

��Putting the finishing touches to the mounted speci- men. After setting up, the head is painted over with a solution of bichloride of mercury and methyl- ated spirits of wine to protect it against the ravages of insects, which are the greatest foe which the masters of the art of taxidermy have to combat

/

���181

�� �