When the beginner has once become proficient in skinning and mounting birds, he will have but little difficulty in "setting up" mammals. The same general principles are to be observed with each.
SKINNING.
Cut with the scalpel or stout scissors from the breast-bone down to the anus: sever the legs close to body, and treat both legs and head as given for birds.
Some difficulty may be experienced in skinning the tail. This is readily done if it be a hairy tail, by pushing the skin over the first two or three vertebræ, then seizing the stump with the left hand, pull, at the same time holding the skin back with the right hand. The bone will generally slip out as easily as a sword from its sheath; but if it will not come, tie a knot of strong cord over the end, and fasten to some support firmly. Then holding on with the right hand, as before, you can easily strip the tail to the tip.
MOUNTING.
Instead of three, you must now have five wires. Sharpen and sand-paper, as the former, and make a nucleus for body. The shape of an animal, with the neck severed from the skull, is like the italic f laid on its side (). This is made by winding the tow on the nucleus, the same as with birds, and drawing the string tight at different points to give it the required form.
Run the leg wires up through the leg, and wind with tow to the proper size. Push the wires through the body, and fasten them. If any special position is required for the tail, a wire may be run through the body into it; otherwise it may merely be pinned to the stand until dry. Having completed the wiring and stuffing, sew up the skin; bring the legs over the body, parallel to each other, and make the required bend at the knees. Now mount your specimen in such a manner as you may choose; put in the eyes and set away to dry. There will be deficiencies, here and there, where the body does not quite fill out the skin. These must be supplied with chopped tow, before sewing up the skin.
You can get the size and curves of the body only by practice; but these few words on the subject may be found of assistance to you; remembering that all quadrupeds curve greatly from the top of the hips to the tail.
If the animal is to be mounted with the mouth open, place pieces of wood between the jaws, and stuff out the lips in a natural manner until dry,—when the props may be removed. A tongue is made of cork or light wood, with two wires secured to the back, by which it is afterwards fastened to the skull. Cover your artificial tongue with wax, and place in position. The inside of the mouth and the gums must also be neatly covered with wax. The whole now requires to be painted with the color most resembling nature, and when that is dry brushed over with a mixture of Damar varnish and oil of turpentine.
The best stand on which to mount mammals is an oval block of wood varying in thickness according to the size of the specimen. The name should be painted in black letters on the side of the block, and the whole varnished. Rocks, stump effects, etc., are made by bending paste-board to the required shape, fastening to a standard, and stiffening with glue. Sand, smalts, etc., may then be dusted on. If there are several mammals mounted in the same case, a watercolor background is very effective.