60 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



^' hitch " around the fetlocks, and spread the fore-legs by 

 making the ropes taught to trees or stakes. Commence 

 skinning, by sUtting the skin from the breast down the 

 belly to the tail ; also open the hind-legs on the inside, 

 from the incision made, nearly to the knees. Flay as far 

 as convenient, and un joint the hind-legs at the socket- 

 joints of the hips. Sever the tail, slack one rope and 

 turn the animal on its side. Eaise the trunk, pull the skin 

 from under, and flay to the shoulders. Release the fore- 

 legs, remove the skin as far as convenient, and disjoint at 

 the scapulars or shoulder-blades. Continue skinning half 

 way up the neck. Return the trunk and head, horns 

 upward, and prop in pos'ition. Make a cut through the 

 skin across the skull, commencing at the middle of the 

 base of one antler, ending at the same place at the base 

 of the other. Place the knife in the middle of this incis- 

 ion and run it down the back of the neck nearly to the 

 shoulders. Flay around the neck, remove the skin neatly 

 and closely from the burrs of the antlers ; cut the ears 

 through at the base, unjomt the first cervical vertebra 

 from the skull, and sever the head from the body. 



Carefully remove the skin from over the eyes, and be 

 cautious that you do not cut through the skin below 

 them. Free the pelt from the skull, taking the lips 

 with it. Flay the legs down from the shoulders and 

 hams as far as possible ; then slit the legs up their backs 

 from the hoofs nearly to the elbows and knees. Skin 

 around the bones, disjoint the legs at the wrists and ankles, 

 draw out the bones, and the skin can be folded and carried 

 behind the saddle. The skull and leg-bones should be 

 cleansed and preserved. 



When reaching camp, spread the hide, flesh side up, and 

 thoroughly cleanse it, removing the lean meat of the hps, 

 but leavmg the black skin forming the under cover- 

 ing attached to the pelt. Flay the feet down closely to 

 the hoofs, and "prime" them, as w^ell as the whole pelt, 



