8 OF STUFFING QUADRUPEDS, &C. 



are now pulled out of the skin, by drawing 1 the legs one way, 

 and the skin another, as far as the claws of the foot. All the 

 ntrecles are then cut off the bones, while care is taken not to 

 injure the ligaments and tendons. They should be left adher- 

 ing to the knee. They are then returned into the skin again. 

 The hind legs are treated in the same manner. The tail is 

 the last part which is skinned, and this is a more difficult task 

 than the other parts of the body. Two or three of the first 

 joints or vertebrae are first laid bare by pulling the skin back ; 

 they are then tied firmly with a strong cord, which must be 

 attached to a strong nail or hook on the wall. A cleft stick 

 is introduced between the vertebras and the skin, the stick 

 is then forced to the extremity, and the tail-bones come out of 

 their enveloping skin or sheath. 



The skeleton head, having been divested of all its fleshy 

 matter, tongue, palate, external muscle, and brain, is now re- 

 turned to its place in the skin, which is in a condition for 

 commencing the operation of stuffing. 



OF STUFFING QUADRUPEDS, &c. 



Let us suppose the animal which we intend to stuff to be a 

 Cat. Wire of such a thickness is chosen as will support the 

 animal by being introduced under the soles of the feet, and 

 running it through each of the four legs, A piece of smaller 

 dimensions is then taken, measuring about two feet, for the 

 purpose of forming, what is termed by stuffers, a tail-bearer. 

 This piece of wire is bent at nearly a third of its length, into 

 an oval of about six inches in length ; the two ends are twist- 

 ed together, so as to leave one of them somewhat longer than 

 the other ; the tail is then correctly measured, and the wire is 

 cut to the length of it, besides the oval. The wire is then 

 wrapped round with flax in a spiral form, which must be in- 

 creased in thickness as it approaches the oval, so as to be 

 nearly equal to the dimensions of the largest vertebrae, or root 

 of the tail. The thickness can be very nearly imitated from 

 measuring the bones of the tail which have just been removed, 

 and for this purpose a pair of callipers should be used. When 

 finished it should be rubbed thinly over with flour-paste, to 



