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Guide to Taxidermy 





Cleaning the Scalp 



To do this you will need a pair of heavy scissors, 

 those illustrated in Chapter 10 are the best and 

 most durable. Cut off all flesh or fat that may have 

 been left on the skin. Carefully thin the skin 

 down around the eyes and lips; keep your fingers 

 underneath where you are cutting to keep the skin 

 up firmly against the shears ; it will make you more 

 careful too, for if you cut through the skin your 

 fingers are apt to suffer. With your scalpel split 

 down between the inner and outer skins of the nose, 

 and cut all fat and gristle from each. 



Skinning the Ears 



All large animals and especially members of the 

 deer family, should have the ears skinned and tin- 

 ned, otherwise they are almost certain to shrink and 

 warp out of shape at some time, even though they 

 are held firmly in shape during the process of 

 drying. 



Ears are skinned by turning them inside out, 

 from the inside of the skin. Start cutting the skin 

 away from the back of the cartilage that fills the 

 ear ; you will find that as soon as you have proceed- 

 ed a little ways you can easily push the skin apart 

 from the cartilage with the finger nails or the wood- 

 en handle of your scalpel. The skin on the back of 



