How to Stuff Birds and Animals

ES AND

h a strong short knife or chisel. If the force of the hand is inadequate, a

spine, are placed below, from which cause the tortoise has been termed a retroverted animal. The vertebral extremity of the scapula is articulated with the shie

l, is removed, while attention is paid to the parts as above described. The head, fore-feet, and tail a

washed out with a sponge, and carefully dried. Th

d, neck, and legs stuffed with chopped flax or tow. The parts of the skin which have been cut are then sewed together. The back and breast-plates are then united by four small h

lution of nitric acid and water; afterwards cleanly washed,

AND LIZARDS

the tails of the smaller species, as they are very liable to break. The skins being of a dry nature, require

cies are exceedingly apt to change color in drying; which must be imitated with the colored varnishes, and a

ossy should be varnished af

TS IN

the scales; the opening should be made in the side, commencing at the termination of the scales

ear of receiving poison from the fangs. But there is not the slightest danger of being affected, as these can easily be cut out by means of pincers. The h

pace. The simplest way to preserve small species is to put them in

ins of the smaller serpents perfectly flat on paper, which preserved

f a proper thickness, and above the whole a spiral band of sliver should be carefully wrapped. It is then placed inside of the skin, and sewed up. The eyes are placed in as directed for quadrupeds

AND

two jaws are next raised up, and the skin is pushed back with the fingers of the right hand, while the body is drawn back in a contr

ed in the mouth, and pour in well-dried sand. When full, a small piece of cotton is pushed i

rnish. When this has perfectly dried, very small perforations are made under the belly with

ainted with the varnish to their natural hues. There is less difficulty with Toads i

rfectly preser

SH

e firmly; the body may be then taken out and the skin dried. When the skin is to be stuffed, roll it in a moist cloth, which will not only render it pliable, but

AND OTHER FISH

same manner as Frogs and Toads, by

NG FISH I

beyond them. Coat the paper with a weak solution of gum-arabic, and put a piece of similar size on the top of the fin; by pressing these gently they will adhere and dry in a few minutes; these will keep the fins extended, and preserve them during the operation of stuffing. When these are dry, take a piece of tissue paper or thin silk, and press it gently on one side of the fish. The natural glutinous matter which covers the scales will be sufficient to make it a

h can be seen in most fishes. The cheek should be afterwards cut open, so that the flesh may be removed from it; cut also the flesh from the opposite cheek, and supply its place by cotton. The skin must now be detached from the flesh, which will require some

be wiped dry, and the preservative applied in the same manner as directed for birds

ossible, so that the vertebr? may be cut close to the head. The tail is then skinned. The head is pushed inwards, and the skin passed over it above, and all the cartilage cut carefu

ed in a skin, which consists of a single piece, the tail of which only is free and flexible. The openi

FFI

art. When properly filled, they must be sewed up, and set aside to dry in the air, but not exposed to the rays of the sun. In a few days, the papers with which the fins were extended are taken off, by da

oks must be fastened into the wood. From these must be placed upright wires, so that they penetrate the skin, and pass through the back. Let the whole internal surface of the skin be well rubbed with the preservative. The body is then stuf

nected with the eyes. These must be imitated with gum-ara

ied with spirits of turpentine, after they are mounted, more particularly the

essary to keep them extended by mea

we have stated, is, to take care that the spines, with which

tached to the skin; and although they become somewhat dim from drying, their colors and brilli

xternal surface, which has the effect of completely taking off the varnish, or at least of raising it from the skin, which, when allowed to dry

mended will apply t

S, CRAB

e all protected by a coriaceous covering, or shell, which is easily preserved, al

introducing a small, crooked wire; in the smaller claws the flesh must be allowed to dry, and to facilitate this extremely small perf

ented together, after being well anointed with the preservative. In crabs, the body, with all the limbs attached, is pulled separate from the back shell and the whole fleshy matter carefully picked out and preserving powder and the

e applying the preservatives, the shell

imal after it is dead. An incision is made in the soft tail of the animal, and the contents allowed to run off; it is then filled with cotton and

hick bed of cotton or flax between each. In Lobsters, and the species which are allied to them, great care must be exercised in preserving the tentacula or feelers which emanate from their heads, as these become very brittle after they are dried. In

us animals should be immersed in corrosive sublimate and w

y are in general attached by glu

ater in cleaning crustaceous animals, a