| Glycerine | 2 | parts | |
| Carbolic acid | 1 | part |
After skinning the bird and applying some arsenical solution to the inside, brush this solution liberally over the entire inside of the skin. Pay special attention to the bones, wing and leg, skull and root of the tail. If necessary the skin may be packed flat for shipment. One treatment will keep all but the larger skins soft for several months. The feet, of course, will become hard and dry and must be relaxed as usual before mounting.
Every taxidermist needs to be more or less of a modeler, and one of the most useful materials is:
| Wet wood pulp | 10 | oz. | |
| Glue (hot) or LePage's (measure) | 3 | oz. | |
| Plaster paris, dry | 20 | oz. |
This formula may be varied at the convenience of the operator. Work the glue into the pulp and knead the plaster into the mass. The more glue the slower it sets and a few drops of glycerine will keep it soft several days. Made with little or no glue it hardens quickly.
If the paper pulp is not at hand it may be made by tearing old newspapers or sheathing paper small and boiling and pounding till a pulp results. This composition is much in use in Europe in the making of many familiar toys and similar objects.
For modeling open mouths, finishing mounted specimens, making artificial rocks, stumps and boughs, it is very desirable.
| Beeswax | 1 | part | |
| Paraffin wax | 1 | part |
Melt and color with tube oil colors. To color dip up a spoonful of melted wax, squeeze some tube color in and stir until stiff. Place the spoon in the hot wax and stir till evenly mixed. Do not try to put the color directly in the hot wax as it will not mix evenly so.
Wax should be melted in a water bath, like a glue pot, as excessive heat will darken it. Cakes of wax of suitable colors may be had of the supply dealers and are most economical when no great amount of work is done. The same parties supply the paper pulp previously mentioned.