OF OBJECTS IN NATURAL HISTORY. 505 



passed through holes drilled at their junction. When all 

 the bones are attached in this manner, two perpendicular iron 

 rods are fixed to the board upon which it is placed for the 

 support of the skeleton. In very large animals the connection 

 at the articulations is formed with nuts and screws. 



In mounting a quadruped, the general plan is to lay the ani- 

 mal on its back, after having filled its mouth and any wounds 

 in the skin with cotton or chopped flax, to prevent the soiling 

 of the hairs. An incision is then made in the middle of the 

 abdomen, turning back the hairs to right and left, and taking 

 care not to cut the muscles of the belly. The incision is car- 

 ried longitudinally from the arch of the pubis to the stomach, or 

 further if necessary, and the skin separated to the right and 

 left, placing pads of tow or cotton between it and the body as 

 the skinning proceeds. The anus is separated at the rec- 

 tum, and each thigh at its junction with the bones of the pelvis. 

 For quadrupeds of middling size it is sufficient to take the skin 

 in one hand, and the body in the other, and, by pulling in con- 

 trary directions, remove the skin as far as the shoulders. When 

 this is done, the fore legs are cut at the shoulder joint. The 

 neck is skinned by passing the skin over the head, and detach- 

 -ing it from the cranium by means of a scalpel. The ears are 

 cut as near as possible to the bone, and the eyelids preserved. 

 The head is skinned as far as the nose, the cellular matter re- 

 moved from the cranium, and the bone anointed with the arse- 

 nical mixture. The occipital hole being now enlarged, the 

 brain is scooped out by means of a spatula ; and the bones of 

 the head being cleaned are replaced under the skin. The fore- 

 legs are skinned in the same manner, by turning over the skin 

 downwards, and dissecting away all the soft parts except the 

 ligaments. The other legs are done in the same manner to the 

 claws and replaced. The tail is then skinned, only being 

 more difficult, it is found necessary sometimes after clearing 

 two or three joints, to fix a cord to these, attached to a hook 

 in the wall, and by means of a cleft stick free the skin from 

 its attachments. The body being completely removed, the 

 skin is spread upon a table, and all the fleshy portions scrap- 

 ed off. 



An iron wire is now procured of such thickness that four 

 pieces introduced into the legs will support the animal. A 



