218. Taxidermia. 
In stuffing the larger animals, we may make use of hay or 
moss with advantage, especially of the kind of moss growing 
in morasses, and which are known to botanists by the general 
terms of sphagnum and fontinalis. Moreover, we must remark 
that the artificial body. and every other part, be not made too 
large, for should the skin be too much stretched, it might be 
attended with unpleasant consequences. At the same time, 
it should not be made too small, a medium is entirely the 
better way ; but it is only by great practice and a good eye, 
that we can hit the mark. In fact, the stuffing of quadrupeds, 
is atteuded with more difficulties than that of other animals, 
and not evey one will succeed immediately at the first attempt. 
Section 9.—On setting up. 
A specimen thus prepared, lying before one, choose a wire 
of a suitable size, for instance, if it is a polecat, (iltis,) of the 
gness of a strong knitting needle. Five pieces of wire are 
necessary, which are to be cut off in length, according to the 
size of the parts into which they are to be thrust. The wire 
for the throat should reach through the head and neck, into 
the mid thickness of the body. The leg wire must also reach 
pretty far into it, and besides, must project from under 
the soles of the feet, so far as to enable us to secure the an- 
nal, by their means, to a board, or the pedestal. Let these 
_ Wires be. 2d well at‘one point, then push the neck wire 
from without through the skull and neck, deep into the body, 
far that the uw may not appear from without. 
Next let the legs be stretchted out istraightened) beginning 
first with the hind legs. Pierce through the soles of the feet 
with the sharpened end of the wire, thrusting it up along the 
bones of the leg, pretty far into the body. Part of the wire 
as aforesaid, projects below the soles, for fastening the animal. 
Proceed ith.the fore legs in the same way ; here also 
ints of the wire should enter almost into the centre of the 
ly. The legs are then bent into a natural posture, as also 
"the head and neck, and finally the body and_ tail, according 
to the attitude in which you wish to place the animal. 
Holes having been bored into the board, branch of a tree, 
or other pediment, on which the animal is to be fixed, at 
neces, the projecting wires at the soles are inserted 
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y mily, and then b . bending, pressing and patting, 
Folly ths titude you think most e 
4t were certainly desirable, could we always have 
