634 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



we would also add, to prevent unpleasant con- 

 sequences, that if the operator is performing on one 

 of the weasel tribe, or any other animal pos- 

 sessing mephitic glands about the posterior ex- 

 tremity, great caution is requisite to avoid punc- 

 turing these with the scalpel. When the incision 

 has been made, let the skin be separated from the 

 muscles of the belly on either side, far enough back 

 tox expose the outer part of the thigh, then bend 

 the leg, push it forward, and separate it at the knee- 

 joint, or, if preferred, at its articulation with the 

 pelvis ; this being accomplished on both sides, re- 

 move the skin from the anus, being careful not to 

 cut through too close to the anal orifice, dissect the 

 skin back a short distance from the base of the 

 tail, fasten a piece of string round that organ close 

 to the rump, attach it to some fixed object, and 

 with the curling-tongs before-mentioned, grasp the 

 exposed part of the tail, pull with a steady strain 

 and the skin will be pushed off, with perfect ease, to 

 its apex. To strip the skin from the back is a sim- 

 ple operation, and may frequently be done, as far as 

 the shoulders, without the aid of the scalpel, which 

 point being reached, expose the arms to the elbow- 

 joint, where the separation may be made, or at the 

 shoulder, according to inclination ; continue the 

 process by drawing the skin over the head, being 

 especially particular to cut through the ears close to 

 the skull ; dissect carefully round the eyes, and 

 avoid injuring the skin at the corners of the mouth ; 

 proceed with caution as far as the nose ; it then only 



