TAXIDERMY. 83 



shell with the preservative, we sew the parts which 

 require it, and with an awl make four little holes 

 on the edges of the upper shell and breast, and 

 unite them by these means. It often happens that 

 the calipash of these animals is soiled or dirty ; we 

 clean it by rubbing it with a little nitric acid in 

 water ; and to make it shine, we rub it with a piece 

 of cloth dipped in a little oil. 



Lizards* 



We skin and mount lizards as we do quadru* 

 peds ; but we must apply much less of the preserva- 

 tive to them, and we must also use much precaution 

 in taking off the skin of the tail, which easily 

 breaks. The small species lose their colours in 

 preparation : we must content ourselves with putting 

 them into spirituous liquor, where they will per* 

 fectly preserve. 



Frogs. 



When we wish to mount one of these animals, 

 we must open its mouth, cut the first cervical ver- 

 tebra, and continue to take out the interior of the 

 mouth with the scissars ; we then raise up the two 

 jaws, and pushing back the skin with the fingers 

 of the right hand, and drawing the body in the 

 contrary direction with the other hand, we easily 

 remove the skin, making the body come out at the 

 E 6 



