44 



mixtures, such as corrosive sublimate, may be put 

 on the skin, but are not necessary. 

 Drying. Drying may be done in the sun, though hot 



ashes are preferable, especially for drying up the 

 head cavities. 



When dry the skin should be trimmed with 

 scissors (the nearer the tacks have been placed 

 together the less skin will have to be removed in 

 trimming), and pressed between planks, to counter- 

 act a tendency to curl. If desirable the skins may 

 be mounted on red flannel. 



The thin skins of certain Tree-snakes often 

 lose their colour and become transparent when 

 removed from the body. These should be gummed 

 on to paper or cardboard of the same colour as the 

 skins originally were. 



A skin prepared as already described should 

 make a fine trophy and curiosity, showing, as it 

 will, all points necessary for the identification of a 

 specimen : headshields and shape of head, dentition, 

 ventrals, sub-caudals, and shape of tail. 



Many taxidermists cut off the ventrals when 

 trimming a skin, but I consider that this spoils the 

 specimen, as far as scientific interest is concerned. 

 A well-taken and well-stretched skin (plenty of pins 

 being used) requires very little trimming, but 

 although good skinning is easy enough, with a little 

 practice, it requires some little experience before 

 one can stretch a skin in such a manner as to do 

 full justice to its elastic possibilities, and at the 

 same time get it even and uniform, with a minimum 

 of sagging between the tacks. 



