METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 225 



from this outline which will conform to the shape of the back and up 

 into the neck a little, extending almost to the outline of the chest and 

 to a point which will take in the upper muscles of the thigh, about as 

 we have it in Plate LII. Saw this board out and make two square holes 

 in it, which are for the purpose of sewing the tow on with long needle 

 and cord through the holes. If you desire to give the body of the ani- 

 mal a curve, saw the center board in two in the middle, and have your 

 blacksmith make four narrow strips of iron of the desired curve, and 

 fasten two of these on each side with screws, as seen in Plate LII. In 

 making a center board, do not make it too wide; leave enough space 

 on the line of the back for the binding down of tow with cord, and for 

 a layer of clay. The center board in the smaller mammals should be 

 so narrow that you can work all around it while placing the tow on the 

 sides, chest and under parts. 



If the leg bones still remain attached to the skin which is in 

 pickle, take the skin out and detach the bones at tlie first joint above 

 the foot. Now place these bones on the center board and arrange 

 them in the position you desire to have the animal assume. Have 

 your blacksmith make four iron squares, as we have directed on page 90, 

 and as seen «, b, Plate LII, for the reception of the leg irons, as will pres- 

 ently be described. Place the knob of the humerus and femur on the 

 center board against the iron squares at the distance apart which your 

 measurements indicate, and be sure you are right, because upon this 

 alone you must depend for the proper coupling of your animal. Mark 

 the places on the board, and fasten the iron squares there with screws. 

 Now place the bones again in position and take four pieces of heavy 

 annealed wire and bend them close to the back of the leg bones in the 

 position you have arranged them, following accurately the bend of 

 every joint. Allow enough for the missing bones of the foot, and also 

 to go through the pedestal, and to project through the iron squares to 

 receive nuts. Now have made out of ^ inch round iron rod their 

 counterparts in shape and length, and have both ends of each rod 

 threaded to receive nuts. When this has been done, you will soon 

 have the center-board standing on four leg irons. The next thing to 

 be done is to fit the leg irons into the back of the bones. Low down 

 on the tibia the iron must be sunken into the bone so that it 

 will not project out too far and give to that part of the leg an ill 

 shape; by cutting a groove in the tibia behind the calcaneum and all 

 the way down to where the bones of the foot have been detached, the 

 iron can be sunken almost out of sight. The hollow formed where 

 the tendon Achilles passes over the calcaneum may in this manner be 



15 



