netting bent to size. See that wings cover back neatly. Lay head of
short necked bird out straight, neck somewhat shorter than natural, and
of long necked specimen along right side, looped to body with cord sewn
through neck and side. Cross the feet and tie with a tag bearing
complete data as to locality, date, sex, etc., with collector's name. To
determine sex of a bird specimen, open the abdomen under thigh. Testes
of male will be found under fore end of pelvis and are white, in young
bird, very small.

Now when the period of drying is past, return to the mounted bird for
finishing touches. With scissors cut the thread feather wrappings. Pull
out pins in back and breast and cut off wing pinning-wires flush under
the plumage. If the specimen was primarily mounted on a rough temporary
perch, remove to the finished permanent stand and color legs and fleshy,
exposed parts of face skin to natural hues with tube oil colors and a
soft brush. Thin the color for this purpose with a little turpentine and
a very little touch of varnish.

In all work in taxidermy, practice develops deftness and a personal
system of handling the details that cannot be brought about except by
sympathetic attention to the art. The work is not difficult when the
details are addressed with quiet thought and very little main strength.

[Illustration]

SKINNING, PREPARING, AND MOUNTING A SMALL MAMMAL

CHAPTER III

SKINNING, PREPARING, AND MOUNTING A SMALL MAMMAL

We will choose a gray squirrel as our subject in this chapter, as this
little rodent has a tough skin that is easily manipulated. A cottontail
rabbit might be more easy to procure, but is not so satisfactory for the
purpose of initiative steps in this work, as his skin is extremely
delicate and requires especially careful handling in preparation and
mounting.

Now, in beginning work upon the small mammal specimen, make outline
studies of it in same way the bird specimen was handled, _i. e._, both
before and after skinning. When the preliminary surface sketches are
completed, replace the wrapping paper used for the purpose, with
newspaper, cornmeal at hand, and proceed with the skinning.

Have scalpel or skinning-knife well sharpened. Lay head of specimen
toward right. Part fur over center of breast bone, insert point of knife
just under skin, forcing backward, and with as near one clean stroke as
possible open the skin neatly along center of abdomen. Do not cut the
ab