CHAPTER II 



THE TOOLS USED IN TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



Although the tools absolutely necessary for skinning and 

 setting up any animal are not many, yet there are quite a 

 number which the artistic exponent of taxidermy will discover 

 he wants and cannot do very well without. Such ordinary 

 tools as saws, planes, brace and bits, set-square, chisels, gimlets, 

 brad-awls, hammer, spokeshave, and chopper are not taken into 

 consideration, these being tools which are almost necessities, 

 and which every one can handle more or less (often less) 

 dexterously. In the latter case he must call in the friendly 

 carpenter. It may be urged, perhaps, that there are some tools 

 figured upon Plate I. which are homely enough, such as the 

 rule, knives, and scissors, but they are not quite so common as 

 they look, being specialised for certain work. 



Taking the rule first — which is unnumbered, and primarily 

 placed in its position as a means of readily determining the size 

 of each and every tool shown, — it will be observed (or would be 

 were the scale of reproduction large enough) to be a steel rule, 

 on the right-hand half of which is marked the ordinary British 

 measure of twelve inches to the foot ; this side is marked 

 " London." On the other side, marked " Paris," are the metre 

 and its divisions, and, as Science usually recognises these, this 

 side will be found of use for many purposes. Most English 

 works of reference give measurements in tenths of an inch, and 



