MAMMALS 



9 



tail. Then hold the skin at the base of the tail firmly with the 

 thumb and fingers of one hand, and with the thumb and fingers 

 of the other hand pull the tail vertebrae out of the tail skin, taking 

 care not to tear off the tail skin from the body skin (fig. 7). 



Hold the body by the hind 

 quarters with one hand, and with 

 the other work the skin forward 

 free from the body until the fore 

 limbs are exposed. Manipulate 

 the skin gently, and do not pull 

 so hard that it will be stretched. 

 Free the forelegs from the skin 

 in the manner described for hind 

 legs. 



Continue to work the skin for- 

 ward until it binds at the base of 

 the ears. Carefully cut through 

 the cartilaginous ear bases so as 

 not to injure either the skin or 

 the skull. The eyes are next en- 

 countered. Work skin forward to 

 behind the eyes and then cut as 

 closely as possible to the skull. 

 With care and practice the mem- 

 brane holding the skin to the eye sockets will be cut without 

 injury to the eyelids. Cut away the skin from the snout until 

 the lips are free. The skin now hangs attached by the nose 

 only. Cut through the cartilage at the end of the nose taking care 

 not to injure the delicate nasal bones or the skin of the muzzle 

 (fig. 8). 



Fig. 3. — Measurement for 

 hind foot. 



