464 Hints for the Preservation [Aug. 



the shoulders, which separate at the shoulder-joint, and continue to draw 

 out the body ; an dcut through the neck as close as possible to the head, 

 between its first joint and the skull. Next pull out the legs as far as the 

 fetlocks, either by the hand alone, or, as in large animals may be ne- 

 cessary, by fastening a cord to the bone, and attaching it to a hook in the 

 wall, or a cross-beam, and then pulling down the skin. When skinned, cut 

 off all the flesh from the leg bones, smear them well over with arsenical 

 soap, wrap them in a little cotton or tow, and return them into the 

 skin. 



The head is next to be skinned very carefully, as far as the corners of 

 the mouth, taking the greatest care not to cut the eyelids when the eyes 

 are come to, and not to separate the lips from the gums ; and the ears 

 must be cut off as close to the head as possible. If the eyelids are cut, 

 and the lips separated from the bones of the jaws, the specimen never 

 looks well when set up ; and if the ears are not cut off as close as possible 

 to the head, they appear shorter than they ought to be. Having so far 

 skinned the head, it must be left hanging to the skin; the flesh must be 

 carefully cut off as clean as possible, the eyes taken out of their sockets, 

 and the brain picked out with a hooked wire, or flat stick, and pair of 

 forceps, through the foramen magnum, or hole for the spinal marrow at 

 the back of the skull. 



The next process is to smear the whole inside of the skin well over 

 with arsenical soap ; taking care to put some also upon the bones, and 

 joints of the legs, and inside the skull, sockets of the eyes, mouth and 

 nose. The balls of the feet and toes should have an incision made into 

 each, and be well stuffed with arsenical soap ; and a little should be put 

 upon every part of the body which is naked of hair. 



If the skin is very fat, as is the case with almost all the water animals, 

 especially those of the dolphin, porpoise, halicore, otter, seal, and other 

 cetaceous and amphibious genera ; the fat must be all removed, and the 

 skin rubbed over with powdered chalk or whiting, before the arsenical soap 

 is applied. A little chopped cotton or tow should next be placed inside 

 the head, and along between the skin and bones of the legs, face, &c. ; 

 and just enough in the body of the animal, to keep the sides of the skin 

 from sticking together. The operation is now completed, excepting the 

 skinning and stuffing of the tail. 



The skinning of the tail is sometimes a more difficult business than 

 all the rest put together. The stump of the tail must be fastened to a 

 strong string, or in large animals, a cord, and the string tied to a beam, 

 or hook in the wall, so as to bring the tail about on a level with a man's 

 elbows, so that he may have full power over it. Two sticks, with a 

 square edge on each, but the edges not so sharp as to cut the skin, must 

 be applied, one on each side of the tail, and tied so as to inclose the stump 

 between them. They are then to be taken hold of on each side, and 

 forced down the tail, separating the skin from the flesh and bones, as 

 they descend. This process prevents the skin from being turned inside 

 out ; which it is well to avoid, for it is very difficult, and sometimes im- 

 possible to get it right again. The skin of the tail is to be well smeared 

 inside with arsenical soap, and a very small quantity of tow, or a small 

 rope may be introduced by means of a split rattan, to keep its sides 

 apart. 



When the skin is thus prepared, it must be put in a cool airy place to 

 dry, and after a day or two, it may be set in the sunshine. In damp or 

 wet weather, however, it is better to put it in the sun immediately after 

 being prepared with arsenical soap, otherwise the epidermis or scarf skin 

 is liable to come off, and bring the hair along with it. 



Care must be taken that skins thus prepared are well dried ; and they 

 should be sent off to be set up, as soon after they are dry, as possible. 1£ 



