CHAPTER XXVII. 



HINTS ON SKINNING, AND ON THE PRESERVATION 

 OF TROPHIES 



A LTHOUGH in the body of this work I 

 J~\. have given rough-and-ready methods, which 

 I have personally employed for the treatment of 

 skins, head-skins, etc., I am indebted to Mr. Butt, 

 taxidermist, of 49, Wigmore Street, for the following 

 up-to-date instructions on the subject : 



ON SKINNING MAMMALIA 



Directly after the animal has been killed, the 

 nostrils, throat, and any bullet -wounds should be 

 plugged with cotton-wool or tow. 



To remove the skin, place the animal on its back, 

 and make a longitudinal incision with the knife 

 along the centre line of the belly to the lower lip, 

 which latter must be divided. In performing this 

 operation, care must be taken that the hair along 

 the line of incision be carefully divided, and not cut. 

 Straight cuts through the skin may next be made 

 along the inside of each leg as far as the claws, 

 or hoofs, as the case may be. Next turn the skin 

 back in every direction as far as the incisions made 

 will admit of this being done, and free the legs 



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