60 TORTOISES AND TURTLES. 



CHAP. III. 



ON SKINNING, PRESERVING, AND SETTING UP REP- 

 TILES, FISHES, AND MOLLUSCOUS ANIMALS, &C. 



CLASS III. REPTILES. 



TORTOISES AND TURTLES. 



THE bodies of this tribe are enveloped in two plates, or shields, 

 the upper one is formed of the ribs, and the under one of the 

 sternum, or breast-bone. 



SKINNING. The first operation is to separate the back and 

 breast shells with a strong short knife, or chisel. If the force 

 of the hand is inadequate, a mallet may be used, taking care 

 not to strike so hard as to crack the shell. 



These two bony plates being covered by the skin, or by 

 scales, the scapula, and all the muscles of the arm and neck, in 

 place of being attached to the ribs and spine, are placed below, 

 from which cause the tortoise has been termed a retroverted 

 animal. The vertebral extremity of the scapula is articulated 

 with the shield, and the opposite extremity of the clavicle with 

 the breast-plate in such a manner, that the shoulders form a 

 ring for the passage of the trachea and oesophagus. 



After the Turtle is opened, all the flesh which adheres to 

 the breast-plate, and also to the upper shell, is removed, 

 while attention is paid to the parts as above described. The 

 head, fore-feet, and tail are skinned as in quadrupeds ; but 

 none of these must be removed from the upper shell, but left 

 attached.. 



All the fleshy parts being removed, the shells are washed 

 out with a sponge, and carefully dried. They are then slightly 

 rubbed with the arsenical soap. 



STUFFING. Wires are now passed through the middle of 

 the legs, after the skin has been rubbed with the preservative. 



