8 OF STUFFING QUADRUFEDS, &c. 
| are now pulled out of the skin, by drawing the legs one way 
| and the skin another, as far as the claws of the foot. All the 
_ muscles are then cut off the bones, while care is taken not to 
injure the ligaments and tendons. They should be left adher- 
ing tothe knee. They are then returned into the skin again. 
The hind legs are treated in the same manner. The tail is 
the last part which is skinned, and this is a more difficult task 
than the other parts of the body. Two or three of the first 
joints or vertebre are first laid bare by pulling the skin back ; 
| they are then tied firmly with a strong cord, which must be 
attached to a strong nail or hook on the wall. A cleft stick 
is introduced between the vertebre and the skin, the stick 
is then forced to the extremity, and the tail-bones come out of 
their enveloping skin or sheath. 
The skeleton head, having been divested of all its fleshy 
matter, tongue, palate, external muscle, and brain, is new re- 
turned to its place in the skin, which is in a condition for 
commencing the operation of stuffing. 
OF STUFFING QUADRUPEDS, &c. 
Let us suppose the animal which we intend to stuff to be a 
Cat. Wire of such a thickness is chosen as will support the 
animal by being introduced under the soles of the feet, and 
running it through each of the four legs. A piece of smaller 
dimensions is then taken, measuring about two feet, for the 
purpose of forming, what is termed by stuffers, a tail-bearer. 
This piece of wire is bent at nearly a third of its length, into 
an oval of about six inches in length ; the two ends are twist- 
ed together, so as to leave one of them somewhat longer than 
the other; the tail is then correctly measured, and the wire is 
cut to the length of it, besides the oval. The wire is then 
wrapped round with flax in a spiral form, which must be in- 
creased in thickness as it approaches the oval, so as to be 
nearly equal to the dimensions of the largest vertebre, or root 
of the tail. The thickness can be very nearly imitated from 
measuring the bones of the tail which have just been removed, 
and for this purpose a pair of callipers should be used. When 
| finished it should be rubbed thinly over with flour-paste, to 
| 
