
HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 139 
(Fig. 30, a); a pair of pincers for bending wire (c) ; a pair 
of wire cutters (5) ; a pair of small forceps for stuffing the 
necks of small birds and mammals and arranging feathers 
(e); a pair of larger ones, at least fifteen inches long, for 
stuffing the necks of large birds and mammals (4) ; a pair of 
dissecting scissors for cutting flesh and ligaments during the 
process of skinning (d) ; another larger and stronger pair for 
cutting tow; a large knitting needle inserted into a handle 
and sharpened at the end, for perforating the tarsi of birds 
previous to the insertion of the wires (7) ; a tin sieve with a 
cover for dusting powdered arsenic upon the skin (g) ; a wide- 
Fig. 30. 




mouthed jar, with a brush passing through the stopper, for 
holding arsenical soap (f); tow for stuffing small birds and 
mammals (the finest quality being used for filling the necks) ; 
also hay, dried moss, etc., for those of larger size; needles 
for sewing up incisions; thread for winding; a large fish- 
hook with the barb filed off, for suspending specimens while 
skinning them. Annealed iron wire of various sizes, TRES 
ing from 10 to 26, —No. 10 being used for supporting large 
Specimens, No. 26 for humming birds, warblers, etc. A - 
file of medium coarseness for pointing wire; a set of Aiken's 

