86 TAXIDERMY, 



as rattle-snakes, and many others ; we ought there- 

 fore to hunt these animals with caution, and it is 

 even better to leave it entirely to the natives of the 

 country, who are accustomed to distinguish those 

 that are venomous from those that are not, and are 

 better skilled in killing both kinds. It is right to be 

 careful of those serpents whose head is large and 

 flat, and the neck narrow, for this character only 

 belongs to those whose bite is venomous. 



FISH, 



Lampreys and Eds. 



THESE may be skinned by the mouth, and be filled 

 with fine sand, as we have pointed out for the frogs ; 

 the smaller ones must be put into spirits of wine. 



Sharks. 



Fish of this kind preserve their form and colour 

 best when mounted, as they have a very thick skin, 

 which is rough to the touch. 



We make an incision in them from below the head 

 to the fin of the tail; we take away the skin on each 

 side with a sharp instrument, until we can cut the 

 vertebral column, as near as possible to the head: we 

 proceed to skin the tail ; we push the head within, 

 and pass the skin above, for the greater facility in 



