e filled give the head and neck a coating of
potter's (or modelling) clay and then several coats of well pasted paper
as directed for covering manikins for large animals.

When this has completely dried out remove skin from pickle, clean and
poison it and after placing the ear forms it will be ready to cover the
head and neck. I prefer good cardboard forms for the ears though some
use only metal. Lead is too clumsy and heavy, copper and wire cloth
corrode, pure sheet tin works nicely but is expensive.

The form should receive a couple coats of liquid glue before the skin is
put on to stay. Fasten the skin in front of the eyes with a brad and
draw into place about the base of the antlers. Use a heavy needle and
waxed linen cord for this sewing. Heavy gilling twine doubled will do.

Sew up from first one and then the other antler to the central cut down
the back of the neck, tie the threads together and continue sewing down
the neck. Get the skin on face and around mouth placed, then draw the
neck skin tight and nail to the edge of the board with finishing brads
an inch or more long. Any surplus remaining can be trimmed away. A
square of rough board, screwed on the end of the neck, will enable it to
stand on the bench with nose up while the final touches are put on the
anatomy of the head and face.

[Illustration: PAPER HEAD AND EAR FORMS.]

The split lips filled with a little clay are placed and will usually
stay without pinning if the lower lips are tucked under where they
belong. Fill the end of the nose and around the nostrils nicely, no live
deer ever had a shriveled up nose. Fill under the eyebrows as the skin
there was quite thick before paring. Set the eyes, after filling sockets
with clay. A little work with a sharp awl will put the lids in place
with lashes disposed aright. If the ears have not been permanently
fixed, do so now filling out their bases with stuffers and thrusting
stout wires into the head to keep them set until dry. A few stitches are
taken to hold the skin of both sides of the ears together, when dry they
are removed. Brush the hair down and if it persists in rough spots,
paste them and then smooth down. When dry the comb and brush will remove
the scales of paste readily along with any dirt from the hair. When dry
clean the antlers and oil them lightly, brush out the hair and clean all
clay from eyes and nose. Connect the eyes and lids with black wax, model
the inside of nostrils with cream