290 TAXIDERMY ATSTD ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



according to its osteological character, and pin each toe in its 

 proper place, as shown in the accompanying- plate. The leg 

 must be held in place by attaching- threads to it, and making 

 them fast to the various parts of the g-allows. 



8. In putting on the foreleg-, the position of the scapula must 

 be defined with accuracy, in order to avoid placing it too low or 

 too high, and thus making- an incorrect representation of the 

 height of the animal. Bear in mind that the scapula never lies 

 prone upon the ribs, but is separated from them by a cushion 

 of muscle. It is therefore necessary to leave a certain space 

 between ribs and scapula. 



9. Next cut two stiff brass wires of the proper length for the 

 two standards that must support the skeleton (see A A and B B 

 in Plate XX.). To make the U-shaped fork at the upper end 

 of each standard, to clasp the vertebral column, heat one end of 

 the 'rod red-hot, and plunge it into cold water, which softens 

 the metal. Now put it in a vise, and with a hack-saw split the 

 rod down the middle as far from the end as necessary. Finish 

 neatly by rounding off the ends with a fine file, and bending 

 them in shape with the pliers. The lower end must have a 

 thread cut on it an inch or so in length, a neat brass " rosette " 

 screwed upon it (B) to do duty 011 the top of the pedestal, and a 

 small brass nut made to screw on underneath the pedestal, to 

 hold the standard firmly upright. These standards need not be 

 put in place under the skeleton until it is mounted finally on its 

 handsomely polished, permanent exhibition pedestal. 



10. Mr. Lucas has two methods for attaching a small skull to 

 the skeleton. One is to cut a piece of cork to fit snugly in the 

 occipital hole of the skull (foramen magnum), then pierce a hole 

 through its centre, and fit it tightly on the projecting- end of 

 the vertebral wire, close up to the first cervical vertebra (the 

 axis). The cork thus becomes stationary, and the skull may be 

 put in place and removed at will. 



The other method is to place the skull exactly in position on 

 the skeleton, fitting it closely to the axis. Then drill a small 

 hole through each side of the axis in such a manner that in its 

 passage from top to bottom the drill will also pass through the 

 occipital condyle of the skull. By fitting a wire through each 

 of these holes the skull will be held fast in position so long as 



