THE SKINNING OF MAMMALS 109 



repeated upon the other side, will expose the anus and the 

 root of the tail. The skin of the former must be cut carefully 

 away close to the flesh without cutting the outside skin, and 

 a piece of wadding should be here used as a plug. 



The root of the tail now shows much more plainly, and 

 may be skinned a little way up, and loosened with the knife 

 from the skin on its upper surface. The withdrawal of the 

 tail from its sheath of skin is a necessary matter, and one 

 which, with a little practice, is easily accomplished. For larger 

 and longer-tailed mammals, the cutting-pliers (No. 12) are 

 usually used, the bows being made to encircle the tail inside 

 the skin, against which they are pressed, and at the same time 

 held firmly down upon the table with the left hand, whilst the 

 right hand grasps the tail at its root, and forcibly and rapidly 

 withdraws it from the skin. Sometimes the tail refuses to be 

 drawn in this manner, in which event there is no alternative 

 but to sever it at the root, place this part in a vice, encircle 

 the tail as before with the bows of the pliers, and, grasping 

 these with both hands, pull with might and main. In a small 

 mammal, however, such as the rabbit, the pliers are unnecessary, 

 the withdrawal of the tail being effected by encircling the tail 

 with the fingers of one hand dipped in plaster and drawing 

 • with the other. Properly managed, the whole of the bone of 

 the tail will be pulled out from its sheath, without, be it under- 

 stood, allowing the skin of that part to be turned inside out, 

 but retaining its normal position. 



At this stage it is a convenience to have a small hook run 

 through the back, which hook, being attached by a string or 

 chain to the ceiling, leaves both hands free ; or an " arm " may 

 be used like the French " telegraph," to which the string may be 

 attached instead of to the ceiling. It is as well to remember 

 that the greater part of the animal should not be pulled up 

 so high as to unduly stretch the skin, and such a matter of 



