MUSEUMS. 305 
the shank hang down outside of the skin, just as 
though it were a fifth leg in the centre of the body, 
equidistant from the fore and hind legs. This fifth 
leg, or what may be called the shank of the gimlet, 
is of any sufficient length, and is passed through a 
hole in the table before you, and then fastened with 
a couple of wedges. By this contrivance you can 
raise the animal as high as you wish, or you can 
lower it at your pleasure; and the feet will just 
touch the table, without requiring any wire inside 
to support them. I used formerly to put a stick 
into the skin by way of back-bone, with pieces of 
string tied to it at short intervals. These pieces of 
string were passed through the skin, just where the 
back-bone had been; and then they were attached 
to a gallows above, which gave an excellent support 
to the skin. But I now prefer the other process, as 
I find it more convenient. 
Every thing is now ready for the artist to exer- 
cise his abilities. 
With a piece of iron, from the size of a large 
darning-needle to that of a ramrod (or larger and 
thicker still if the bulk of the animal require it), 
and shaped at one end like a carpenter's pricker, he 
will push out every part of the skin which ought to 
be pushed out, and then reduce with the end of his 
finger any part that may be too prominent ; having 
already made divers small holes in the skin with his 
penknife, in order to afford entrance to the working- 
iron. Thus, a small hole on the top of the head will 
enable him to reach the nose, upper lip, and cheeks ; 
another behind the root of each ear ; another under 
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