326 MUSEUMS. 



not minding whether the fur be wet or dry. When 

 this has been done, the skin has almost the appear- 

 ance of an inflated bag, quite deficient in feature 

 and in muscular appearance. " Rudis, indigestaque 

 moles." It now depends upon the skill and anato- 

 mical knowledge of the operator (perhaps I ought 

 to call him artist in this stage of the business), to 

 do such complete justice to the skin before him, that, 

 when a visiter shall gaze upon it afterwards, he will 

 exclaim, " That animal is alive ! " " Stare loco nescit, 

 micat auribus, et tremit artus ! " 



There are now no obstacles, either from without 

 or from within, to impede the artist's progress. The 

 skin is perfectly free from all chance of putrefaction, 

 is quite supple, and will remain so as long as re- 

 quired. There is no hard body inside to obstruct 

 the transit of a working-iron ; there is not any thing 

 in the shape of wires to prevent him from lengthen- 

 ing or shortening the neck, body, thighs, and legs, 

 according to his own judgment. 



Now we proceed to support the skin in any 

 attitude the artist may wish to place it in. 



Join two pieces of wood in the shape of a carpen- 

 ter's gimlet, and of size corresponding to the size of 

 the animal. When you have nearly filled the ab- 

 domen with chaff, introduce this machine, and let 

 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 



