event the loss of hair and epidermis, in warm weather
especially. Clean the skull if the head is to be mounted with open
mouth. If the skull is not to be had, the teeth are broken, or you are
in a great hurry, use an artificial form with the interior of the mouth
already modelled.

Enlarge the opening at the back of skull and insert a piece of board not
wider than the depth of neck from top to bottom. Drill a hole in top of
skull and drive a screw into the board into the board inside skull
cavity, prop the lower jaw open the desired distance and fill around its
articulations and the base of skull around neck board with freshly mixed
plaster of paris.

[Illustration: FOX HEAD SKINNED AND ON NECK STANDARD.]

When this hardens the skull with open jaws is firmly fixed on end of
neck board. Fasten neck board in vise and mark where to saw off,
allowing for a piece of 1/2 inch board shaped like a cross section of
the neck. If an artificial form is used, screw it to the neck board and
treat the same otherwise.

Make the neck short rather than long with the nose lower than the eyes
in most cases. Build up neck and head by winding on tow. Mount and
finish the head as directed in rug work.

[Illustration: LEOPARD HEAD, ARTIFICIAL.]

The skin may be fastened at the end of neck by pins or brads driven all
around the neck. Trim off any surplus with a knife, cutting from inside
the skin to prevent cutting off ends of fur.

If a skin has been ripped up the front to the chin careful sewing will
make it presentable, though such seams are hard to conceal.

[Illustration: HAWK HEAD.]

The heads of birds of prey and the larger game birds show up well
mounted and need no special treatment from that generally given. The
neck only is made up on a wire, one end of which is sharpened to thrust
through the skull while the other is stapled or clinched to a bit of
board round or oval shape. The skin of the base of neck is fastened to
this by sewing back and forth across the back. Heads of fish like bass
and pike are prepared by cutting off just back of the gills and cleaning
from the back all brains and flesh.

After poisoning, fill them with tow or cotton, bracing the mouth open if
wanted so and keep in the desired position until dry. Then the fibrous
filling is removed and they are filled permanently with plaster or paper
pulp and a piece of board fastened in the back of head to furnish a hold
for screws from the back of the shield or