MOUNTING A LARGE DISARTICULATED SKELETON. 303 



than to place the legs in an easy walking attitude, of which 

 the buffalo skeleton already figured may fairly be taken as a 

 model. 



The rod extending through the spinal canal is cut off so that 

 the head will hang on it properly. Two brass pins are passed 

 through the atlas, one into each occipital condyle. Two iron 

 rods, with lacquered brass shoulders, are used to support the 

 skeleton, as shown in the figure. These rods should be paint- 

 ed black. 



The lower jaw is fastened to the skull by means of brass spi- 

 ral spring wire, which permits it to be moved freely up and 

 down by any one who is studying the animal's dentition. 



The method of mounting any large disarticulated skeleton of 

 a quadruped is essentially the same as that described for the 

 buffalo, the principle variation occurring in the fest. In articu- 

 lating the feet of a wolf, for example, the method of wiring the 

 tarsal bones, carpal bones, metatarsals, metacarpals, and the 

 phalanges, is very similar to that described for the buffalo, but 

 the workman must here also depend largely on his own ingenuity. 

 A single wire passes through the phalanges of each digit, and 

 two sesamoids are fastened on by a single wire. 



Where the digits are more than two in number, a wire is 

 passed transversely through the lower ends of the metacarpals 

 and metatavsnls, and on this are placed short pieces of fine 

 coiled brass spring, to hold the digits at proper distances from 

 one another. 



The tools used in mounting large skeletons are by no means 

 so numerous or costly that any one need be deterred from trying 

 his hand at practical, osteology on the score of facilities or the 

 lack of them. Of course the complete outfit of a professional 

 osteologist includes an extensive array of tools, some of which 

 are rather costly. The most important item is a good drilling 

 machine, chuck and lathe, to work by foot-power. This can be 

 procured of Goodnow & AVightman, of Boston, and in ordering 

 it will be necessary to have a |-inch hole drilled through the 

 centre of the axle, to receive the long, steel drills of various 

 sizes that are to drill the many holes required in the various 

 bones. 



The amateur who can not afford an expensive plant and a 



