sportsman is a friend
worth having, who will share the contents of a seldom overfull purse
with you in return for your best efforts.

CHAPTER XXV.

ODDS AND ENDS, TAXIDERMIC NOVELTIES.

There is almost no end to the useful and interesting things an ingenious
person can turn out in this line. There is quite a demand for the
preservation of the plumage of game birds for millinery use since the
killing of other birds for this purpose was forbidden. Wings, tails,
heads and breasts, principally, of grouse, pheasants and water fowl so
used do not call up visions of starving nestlings. They need only to be
skinned and poisoned as usual and pinned out to dry in the desired shape
often loosely filling in and some cases wiring with rather small soft
wire. When dry all raw edges or surfaces should be covered with pieces
of cambric or lining canvas glued on.

Antlers and horns are sometimes worked up into armchairs and two pairs
of small deer antlers turned upside down and screwed to a square of
board make the foundation of a nice stool. Hat, gun and rod racks of
feet, antlers and heads in various combinations are mentioned elsewhere
and occasionally some one attempts an electrolier of antlers, mounted
either on the heads or separately.

To do this grooves are chiseled out of the back of the antlers to
receive insulated wire running to each point which is equipped with a
light bulb. After placing the wires and bulbs and testing, the grooves
are filled with "mache" or putty colored to match the other surface.

Peacock feather and fox tail dusters are fitted with buck horn handles
or those made of fox or wild cat paws. Riding whips will look well with
the same style handles.

Screens from mounted birds are highly ornamental, especially those of
framed plush or satin on which birds of contrasting plumage are mounted
in medallion style. It would be hard to find a more beautiful object
than a snow white heron medallion on a black velvet screen framed in
gold. These medallions are mounted by flattening the subject
considerably so it is in little more than half relief.

A number of small birds may be mounted on a satin covered screen with
embroidered branches and foliage. Some of the smaller fur bearers have
been used in this way with success.

Some artists have specialized in grotesque mounting of small specimens,
singly and in groups. Frogs, toads and squirrels are best suited to such
caricature work.

A foot muff