10 HINTS ON REMOVING AND 



Antelopes, Carnivora, or Monkeys, the terminal toe-bones may be left 

 in the skin ; but their complete removal is desirable in the larger 

 representatives of these groups, as well as in still bigger animals, 

 such as Elephants, Hippopotami, and Rhinoceroses. Special measures 

 have to be taken with the three latter, but in the case of Carnivora 

 and Monkeys the skin of the toes should be drawn over them by 

 turning it inside-out, and the joints cut with the pliers where 

 required. 



The next process is to turn over the carcase and draw the skin 

 forwards over the head, when the separation of the ears and the 

 severance of the closely adherent skin round the eyes will demand 

 somewhat delicate manipulation. The conchs of the ears should be 

 severed close to the skull, in order to avoid forming apertures of too 

 large size in the skin ; and in the case of the eyelids particular care 

 should be taken in order to avoid gashing the skin, since even the 

 smallest slit in this region will tend to spread to a great extent, and 

 thus cause almost irreparable injury to the specimen. The lips 

 should be cut off as close as possible to the gums. 



It may be added that in the case of animals of the approximate 

 size of a Fox, the skin of the tail may be stripped off entire, without 

 slitting the under surface ; but for animals of this size not intended 

 for mounting, see page 19. 



Having now removed the skin from the carcase, the next process 

 is to cut away completely all fragments of flesh and fat which may 

 have been left adhering to its inner surface. The cartilages of the 

 ears must also be dissected out with the scalpel, by turning back 

 the skin over them ; after which the inner surface should be well 

 anointed with some preservative — powder, paste, or liquid. The 

 scalpel must also be passed between the outer skin and the inner 

 mucous lining of the lips, and the slit thus made well dressed with 

 the same substance. The eyelids have likewise to be thoroughly 

 dressed with preservative ; and if necessary, on account of their 

 thickness, they should be slit open with the scalpel from the 

 inside. 



The skin has now to be dried, which may be effected, if that of 

 a large animal, either by pegging it out (without undue stretching) 

 hair-downwards on the ground, or by folding and drying it in such 



