88 MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 



and then back down on the neck for a short dis- 

 tance. The lips of a large mammal should be split 

 open carefully, and the ears turned out quite to the 

 tip ; this can be done with a little practice. Cover 

 with preservative, well rubbed in, and dry as quickly 

 as possible without tearing. 



Section III. : Making Skins of Mammals. — 

 Remove all blood and dirt, by either washing or 

 by continuous brushing with a stiff brush. Dry 

 off with preservative : rub it well into the hair. 

 Draw out the bones of the leg, wrap them well 

 with cotton to the original size of the leg; then 

 fill out the head to the size and form of life, sew- 

 ing up the neck, and fill up to the body to the size 

 of nature with cotton or tow. Sew up the orifice, 

 then lay the skin, belly down, with the feet laid 

 neatly ; and if the tail is long, lay it over the back. 



Mice and other small mammals should not have 

 the bone of the tail removed, as the skin cannot be 

 filled and turned over the back easily. Large 

 mammals may be also made up if they are to be 

 used for cabinets or for skins. 



Section IV. : Measuring Mammals. — It is 

 quite as easy to measure mammals as birds. The 

 dimensions to be taken may be seen by the accom- 

 panying filled blank, which is the form I always use. 



