THE SKINNING OF MAMMALS 



little more than is wanted on the skin, but that is far better 

 than finding afterwards that the outer skin is cut. Continue 

 cutting above and below the lower jaw until the skin only 

 holds at the extreme tip of the latter ; disjoint the skull from 

 the first vertebra, and the body is freed, and must, of course, 

 be retained as a guide to the setting-up. 



Taking one of the fore limbs next, skin down to the pad 

 of the foot, and from this remove all the flesh nearly to the 

 tips of the toes, which latter must be left attached. Repeat 

 this operation upon the other fore limb, and afterwards upon 

 the hind limbs. 



Each limb, when trimmed, should be painted or rubbed 

 in with a preservative, and in small mammals, especially those 

 with thin skins, it is advisable to make up each limb as it is 

 trimmed and return it into the skin, instead of waiting until the 

 whole of the trimming is completed. This is managed by re- 

 placing with clay the flesh previously removed from the pad of 

 the foot, and, indeed, filling with clay the whole of the under- 

 neath of that member, and then proceeding to wrap the next 

 bones — the radius and ulna and the humerus in the fore limb, 

 and the tibia and femur in the hind — with tow to the shape of 

 the natural limb, going over the whole with a coating of clay, 

 and taking care that the pre- and post-axial borders are 

 kept thin. 



Ordinarily the alum and saltpetre preservative (Formula 

 59) should be used as a ''cure," but for small mammals, and 

 especially for such a subject as a rabbit, which has a thin 

 " papery " skin, the bird-preservative (Formula 5 7) will be found 

 the best, as keeping the thin skin moist until finished, and also 

 preserving such a skin just as well. If, however, the skin dries 

 too rapidly, or has to be put away before being finished, a little 

 glycerin added to the preservative will keep the skin moist 

 and fresh. 



