MUSEUMS. 305 



the shank hang down outside of the skin, just as 

 though it were a fifth leg in the centre of the body, 

 equidistant from the fore and hind legs. This fifth 

 leg, or what may be called the shank of the gimlet, 

 is of any sufficient length, and is passed through a 

 hole in the table before you, and then fastened with 

 a couple of wedges. By this contrivance you can 

 raise the animal as high as you wish, or you can 

 lower it at your pleasure; and the feet will just 

 touch the table, without requiring any wire inside 

 to support them. I used formerly to put a stick 

 into the skin by way of back-bone, with pieces of 

 string tied to it at short intervals. These pieces of 

 string were passed through the skin, just where the 

 back-bone had been ; and then they were attached 

 to a gallows above, which gave an excellent support 

 to the skin. But I now prefer the other process, as 

 I find it more convenient. 



Every thing is now ready for the artist to exer- 

 cise his abilities. 



With a piece of iron, from the size of a large 

 darning-needle to that of a ramrod (or larger and 

 thicker still if the bulk of the animal require it), 

 and shaped at one end like a carpenter's pricker, he 

 will push out every part of the skin which ought to 

 be pushed out, and then reduce with the end of his 

 finger any part that may be too prominent ; having 

 already made divers small holes in the skin with his 

 penknife, in order to afford entrance to the working- 

 iron. Thus, a small hole on the top of the head will 

 enable him to reach the nose, upper lip, and cheeks ; 

 another behind the root of each ear ; another under 



