HANDBOOK OF TAXIDERMY.
CHAPTER I.
BIRD SKINNING AND MOUNTING.
Well, here we are at last. Please turn the key in that door—to keep all inquisitive priers out—for the process into which I am about to initiate you is something of a secret, shrouded by the thin veil of mystery.
You have come to me to-day to learn something of the art of Taxidermy, so we will take up, for your first lesson, bird skinning and mounting. But first let us see what
TOOLS
we shall need to accomplish our end: a pair of good sharp scissors—surgical scissors, with long handles and short, stout blades are the best; a knife or scalpel; a pair of spring forceps; a common knitting-needle; a rabbit's foot, which should be cut off at the knee, the nails cut out, and thoroughly cleansed and dried,—used for smoothing and dusting the feathers of birds after mounting; a fishing-hook, with stout cord attached, for suspending the bodies of birds that would otherwise be too large to handle conveniently.
On the whole, I would advise you to get at the start a common dissecting-case, which will contain all of the above, and besides being convenient, may save you much delay and vexation.
You will need a pair of stout wire cutters; a flat file; a pair of wire twisters or forceps; plenty of pins; thread and needles,—surgical or saddlers' needles, as they are called, are the best, as they cut instead of punching the skin; a brain scoop, made by twisting a bit of wire into a loop; and a bobbin of thread, which you can procure at any cotton factory. You should also have on hand an assortment of annealed wire; glass eyes of various sizes and colors; tack nails; brads; a piece of putty; sealing and bees-wax; paints; glue; artificial leaves; mosses; everlasting flowers, etc., for ornamenting perches.