_ exceedingly apt to change colour in drying; which must be || 
imitated with the coloured varnishes, and afterwards dimmed | 
with sand paper. To keep them in their natural colours, they | 
SERPENTS IN GENERAL. 61 
The skull is returned to its place, and the whole of the head, 
neck, and legs stuffed with chopped flax or tow. The parts | 
of the skin, which have been cut, are then sewed together. | 
The back and breast plates are then united by four small holes, | 
being bored at their edges, and united by strings or small | 
wires. The junction of the bones may then be attached with 
the cement, coloured so as to correspond with the shell. 
If the calipash is dirty, it may be cleaned with a slight 
solution of nitric-acid and water; afterwards clean washed, 
oiled, and then rubbed hard with a woollen rag, to give it a | 
polish. 
CROCODILES AND LIZARDS IN GENERAL. 
Sxinnryc.— All this tribe are skinned in the same manner as 
quadrupeds. Care is, however, required in skinning the tails 
of the smaller species, as they are very liable to break. The 
_ skins being of a dry nature require but little of the pre- 
servative. After they are thoroughly dried they will keep a 
very long time without decay. 
Sturrinc.—Stuff them as directed for quadrupeds. They 
admit of but little variety of attitude. The small species are 
should be preserved in spirits. 
The skins of such as are glossy showkd be varnished after 
they are perfectly dry. 
SERPENTS IN GENERAL. 
Sxinninc.—In skinning serpents there is some nicety re 
quired, to cut them so as ndt to disfigure the scales; the 
opening should be made in the side, commencing at the ter- 
mination of the scales; and they shouid on no account be | 
divided, as upon their number the species is mostly determined. | 
It is a very frequent practice to send home serpents without 
the head, which renders them quite unfit for any scientific 
purpose. ‘This proceeds from the fear of receiving poison 
from the fangs. But there is not the slightest danger of being 
