METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 2''0 



ficial muscles in clay. Begin by laying on the tow and binding it 

 with cord and sewing it down with a long needle through and through 

 and winding it around and around until it has become hard and firm 

 all over. In the center-board two square holes should always be cut 

 so as to sew through with the needle, and thus bind the tow firmly 

 down. Sometimes I cut the center-board in the middle and leave an 

 opening of three or four inches, which gives additional advantage in 

 sewing through the body, the iron bands holding both ends of the 

 center-board out perfectly secure and separated in the middle. To imi- 

 tate the hollow in the hind legs so visible in most short-haired and large 

 mammals, take a piece of copper wire, neatly wind it with tow the proper 

 size, cut a groove in the calcaneum and bind it nicely over the back of 

 this bone and extend it to about three-quarters of the way up on the 

 tibia and bind it there. This is seen in <r, r, Plates LII, LIII and LVI. 

 When the tow has been placed on all parts of the animal, and its form 

 has been made as nearly the natural shape and proportions as it is in 

 your power to develop it, the next thing to do is again to take the skin 

 from the salt and alum bath and try it on the manikin and carefully fit it 

 to every part of the model. Here use your critical powers and discover, 

 if possible, where you can make any improvements. See that the 

 edges of the skin meet everywhere. Take several stitches at dififerent 

 places and examine closely the form at every point. Wherever it is 

 too full, cut the tow away, or build it out where needful. Try the 

 skin on once more before putting on the clay. Notice in particular the 

 coupling of your manikin ; if it is coupled too long or too short, cut into 

 the tow, take the nuts off, remove the leg irons, and place them in any 

 hole in the iron square which will correct the error. This is the chief 

 beauty of the iron square — any error in the coupling can be corrected 

 in a few moments' time, even when the manikin has been completed.' 

 We will assume that the manikin is ready for the clay, which can be 



1. Just in the nick of time, as »hese pages are going into the metal, I have constructed a device which will 

 do away with three holes made in the iron square for the reception of the leg irons. With this contrivance one 

 hole for the leg supports can be made to answer the purpose in all cases. 1 regret that it is now too late to have 

 this device illustrated, for it is a difficult construction to describe. When the center-board has been cut in two 

 in the middle, one inch is sawed off from each end where it has been severed, thus leaving two inches of play in 

 order to be able to lengthen or shorten the center-board. A square bar of iron is made the proper length, which 

 should not be so long as to interfere with the leg bones. In this iron bar holes are drilled for screws, and it is in 

 this way fastened to the rear half of the center-board. A shoulder of iron is made through which this iron bar 

 will pass. A screw hole should be made in the top and middle of this shoulder and four others (two on each side) 

 in the flanges of the shoulder, which rests on the center-board. This shoulder is fastened to the forward half of the 

 center-board by means of screws in the same manner as the iron square. Along through the end of the iron bar 

 which is to pass through the shouldei, holes are drilled about half an inch apart. They should be of the same size 

 as the one drilled on top and middle of the shoulder. If, after you have your manikin standing, you discovei 

 that it has been coupled too long or too short, instead of making any change in the iron squares, simply take out 

 the long screw which passes through the middle of the shoulder and through one of the holes in the iron bar into 

 the center-board, and make the necessary change to another hole to suit the case. 



