SERPENTS IN GENERAL. 61 



The skull is returned to its place, and the whole of the head, 

 neck, and legs stuffed with chopped flax or tow. The parts 

 of the skin, which have been cut, are then sewed together. 

 The back and breast plates are then united by four small holes, 

 being bored at their edges, and united by strings or small 

 wires. The junction of the bones may then be attached with 

 the cement, coloured so as to correspond with the shell. 



If the calipash is dirty, it may be cleaned with a slight 

 solution of nitric-acid and water; afterwards clean washed, 

 oiled, and then rubbed hard with a woollen rag, to give it a 

 polish. 



CROCODILES AND LIZARDS IN GENERAL. 



SKINNING. All this tribe are skinned in the same manner as 

 quadrupeds. Care is, however, required in skinning the tails 

 of the smaller species, as they are very liable to break. The 

 skins being of a dry nature require but little of the pre- 

 servative. After they are thoroughly dried they will keep a 

 very long time without decay. 



STUFFING. Stuff them as directed for quadrupeds. They 

 admit of but little variety of attitude. The small species are 

 exceedingly apt to change colour in drying ; which must be 

 imitated with' the coloured varnishes, and afterwards dimmed 

 with sand paper. To keep them in their natural colours, they 

 should be preserved in spirits. 



The skins of such as are glossy should be varnished after 

 they are perfectly dry. 



SERPENTS IN GENERAL. 



SKINNING. In skinning serpents there is some nicety re 

 quired, to cut them so as not to disfigure the scales; the 

 opening should be made in the side, commencing at the ter- 

 mination of the scales; and they should on no account be 

 divided, as upon their number the species is mostly determined. 



It is a very frequent practice to send home serpents without 

 the head, which renders them quite unfit for any scientific 

 purpose. This proceeds from the fear of receiving poison 

 from the fangs. But there is not the slightest danger of being 



