No. 4.
After the skin is prepared, we will begin by preparing the skull. After cleaning as directed anoint it with the preserving powder, then put in suitable eyes, as directed in birds. Now if the legs are large enough to take in the leg wires, drill holes through the ends large enough to receive said wires. Next divide the skin of ears out to the points and place a piece of tin in them the shape of ear. Now turn the skin of head inside out and sew up the mouth, draw the under lip up under the upper lip and sew it there so as when turned back the stitches will not show. Next stretch the hide on the bench and measure it. In order to make the wire frame as shown and described in wire frames, Nos. 4 and 6, make the frame of suitable malleable wire, and place it in as shown, except the neck wire should be passed out at nostril. First put the skull in place and pass the neck wire through the nose. Then pass the leg wires out through the leg bones, or on the inside of skin where the bone is not large enough to receive it. Now cut the tail wire long enough to reach to end of tail and put it in place.
Now, if the skin has not been previously prepared with some of the preserving preparations, powder the whole inside with the arsenic and alum. However, the head and legs have to be prepared before putting in the frame. We are now ready for the filling. Stuff cotton in around the leg wires to make the legs proper shape, being careful not to get it in too tight. Take some sand and mix some arsenic with it; fill the tail with this, placing some cotton at base of tail to hold the sand in. Now stuff the neck and body with any suitable material, shaping and sewing up as you proceed. Examine the head, and where it needs filling out pass the cotton in through nose and ears, and shape it as in life, arranging the ears, nose and mouth. Now pose the specimen as you wish it to remain, and place it in a cool, dry place to dry. The leg wires should be bent so as to allow the foot to rest on board, and when dry the wires should be cut off at bottom of feet, and the projecting neck wire at end of nose should also be cut off. Anoint the feet, nose and ears with the preserving fluid once a day for a few days. The wood and wire frame is used in heavy animals, the wood simply taking the place of the wire along the back. By examining the cuts it is easy to see how they are to be used.
Wishing to stand animals, such as squirrels, groundhogs, etc., on the hind legs, they have to remain on a block or perch; so procure a suitable block or perch, and varnish it before putting the specimen on. Animals and birds can be stuffed with hay, or anything that you can get into them in good shape. I often mow fine bluegrass and dry it carefully, and find it makes splendid stuffing, especially for the bodies of animals and large birds. Excelsior also makes a good filling.
ON MOUNTING DEER HEADS.
In mounting a deer's head to look life-like (having horns on), proceed to skin, anoint with the preserving powder, build up the nose with plaster of paris, put in the eyes, sew up the mouth and neck, for which see directions in another article. Now take a 2×4-inch piece of pine for a neck support. Fit the end of it in the brain pit with plaster of paris. When the plaster has hardened sew up the mouth as directed in cat. Draw the skin up over the skull and sew the skin together, drawing it close around the horns. The skin being opened on back of neck, sew it up to within six inches of back end. Now make a board to fit in back end of neck skin, and fasten it to the neck support in such a way as to hold the head on wall as desired. Tack the skin around the board, being careful not to draw the hair down. Stuff the neck and finish sewing up. Cut the skin off at back of board. Arrange the whole head as directed in the cat and set away to dry. See that the ears and eyes are all right, and use plenty of the preserving fluid. When the head is completed make a suitable shield to place on back end of the neck; this should be of a neat pattern and nicely polished. Fasten this on to neck board with screws, then on the wall, also with screws, which should be passed through the shield, under edge of hair, to conceal the heads of screws.
ARTICLE III.
A SIMPLE METHOD OF SKINNING, STUFFING AND PRESERVING FISH.
FISH DRESSING.
