METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 185 



Plate XLVI. However, I shall recommend to the beginner the method 

 of wiring as figured in Plate XL\'. Let us lay the skin out full 

 length on our work bench or table and cut a piece of No. 15 annealed 

 wire (see sizes of ivire for mammals.^ page o) six inches longer than the 

 entire length of the animal from the tip of its nose to the end of its 

 tail. This is the center wire. Now measure the leg bones and cut oflf 

 four more pieces of wire of the same size so that they will reach from 

 the ends of the leg bones inside the skin to five inches beyond the sole 

 of the foot. Straighten these wires and polish them with sandpaper, as 

 bright as a darning needle. We shall now begin to form one of the 

 hind legs by first passing the wire in at the sole of the foot and up along 

 the leg bones, allowing it to project two inches beyond the upper end 

 of the femur inside of the skin, and three inches beyond the sole of 

 the foot. Now bend the wire until it fits snugly along the leg bones, 

 and tie it fast, first to the bones of the foot and next to the tibia and 

 fibula (see skeleton of greyhound, Plate XLIX).' P'orm the muscles 

 of the leg, beginning to wrap fine, long fibre tow around the bones of 

 the foot ; here the wrapping should be very slight as the upper portion oi 

 these bones are almost bare of flesh. Now wrap tow around the tibia 

 and fibula, but be careful not to build on too much, for near the heel 

 the muscles are spare and must be given only a slight wrapping; the 

 tibia lies close to the skin, and for this reason the wrapping over the 

 front of the tibia must be very slight. Higher up between the heel 

 and knee the muscles are heavier and must be built out stronger. The 

 knee, however, is bare of flesh and requires a very slight wrapping or 

 none ; the skin should lay immediately above it as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, 

 Plate XLVI. We are now ready to form the muscles of the upper 

 portions of the thigh, which really go to make up the lower portions 

 of the back of the animal. Remember that as far as the muscles ex- 

 tend, the limb is flat on the inside and rounded on the outside. To 

 make up the muscles around the thigh bone, roll up a small ball of tow 

 and place it on the outside between the femur and the leg wire and 

 wrap tow around it until the thigh has attained its proper size and 

 rotundity on the outside and its flatness on the inside. Work with it 

 until you have built it out and formed the thigh according to your ideal 

 of it. When you have proceeded this far with the leg draw it back 



1. Wiring the Legs in Small Mammals. — One of the very best methods of wiring the legs in small quadrupeds 

 is illustrated in the various figures of Plate XLVI. In Figs. 1 and 4 the system is shown very clearly. Instead 

 of tying the v/ire fast to the bones of the leg the end of the femur is fastened to the wire ; the wire is also fastened 

 to the bones of the foot. The leg bones are then given the proper bend and the muscles of the leg are built out to 

 their proper size. By this method the tibia will lay along close to the skin, and the knee, which is bare of flesh, 

 will also lay in a similar position. The fore legs are wired on the same principle, by tying the end of the humerus 

 to the wire. 



