ii8 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



To render the dimensions of the model or shape which was to 

 receive the skin more exact, we modelled one half of the skinned head 

 in plaster, as well as one of the hind and one of the fore legs. 



All these measures being taken, Lassaigne constructed a factitious 

 body in linden-wood. The reader would find the detail too long and 

 too minute if we were to describe the ingenious methods invented by 

 Lassaigne, either to cut the wood, or to preserve the form he had 

 given to this great mass. But to avoid all prolixity, it will be sufficient 

 to observe, that he composed this wooden elephant in such a manner 

 that all the parts could be separated. 



He opened a panel (it is immaterial on which side of the body), and 

 introduced himself into the interior, by means of this opening, either to 

 diminish the thickness of the wood, or for any other purpose during its 

 construction : the head, the trunk, all was hollow ; so that the body, 

 alarming at first from its supposed weight, might be easily transported 

 from one place to another. 



After taking the alum-water from the tub where the skin was placed, 

 we heated it, and poured it boiling on the skin : we left it an hour and 

 a half in this state, after which we drew the skin out to place it quite 

 warm upon the shape., This was not an easy thing, but it was 

 rendered still more difficult by our finding the false body a little too 

 large : the skin would not entirely cover it. There was but one thing 

 which could be done : we could not diminish the wood without destroy- 

 ing the proportions ; besides, the iron pins, the screws which fastened 

 the work, would have lost their hold, and we should have run the risk 

 of overturning the edifice. We then took down the skin, placed it on 

 trestles, and diminished the thickness of it by the help of large knives, 

 cutting it away in thick and long shreds from the whole of the inside. 

 This work occupied five persons for four days. We weighed these 

 shreds, and they amounted to 1 94 pounds. During this operation, the 

 skin had dried, and consequently lost its suppleness. We put it back 

 into a tub and covered it with soft cold water ; the next day we placed 

 it afresh on the shape, and fixed it with wire-nails and large brads : 

 those which fixed the edge of the skin were driven in deeply, the 

 others only half way, to accommodate the skin to all the sinuosities of 

 the model. We drew out a great many of them when the skin was 

 sufficiently dry. 



