142 HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 
provide yourself with tow, cotton, thread and twine; also, 
the stuffing forceps, a pair of pincers, file and wire cutters. 
With the aid of the forceps supply the various muscles of 
the face and head, by inserting cotton both through the 
mouth and eyelids. Take annealed wire of the proper size, 
and eut from the coil six pieces: No. 1, two or three inches 
longer than the total length of the body; Nos. 2 and 3 for 
the forelegs; Nos. 4 and 5 for the hind legs; each of these 
should be two, or even three inches longer than the limbs 
they are to support; No. 6, for a support to the tail, of the 
same proportionate length as the others. With a large 
pair of scissors, cut fine a quantity of tow, and with this, 
and the aid of the long forceps, stuff the neck to its natural 
dimensions. "Taking wire No. 1, bend in it four small rings, 
the distance between the two outer representing the length 
of the body taken from the skin (Fig. 31, a), leaving one 
long end for a support to the head and neck (5). Mould tow 
about that part containing the rings, and by winding it down 
with thread, form an artificial body, resembling in form and 
size the natural one Fig. 31. 
taken from the skin. 
Sharpen the project- 
ing end to a fine 
point with the file, 
and insert it up through the cut tow in the neck, and thence 
through the skull; the skin should then be pulled over the 
body. Wires Nos. 2 and 3 should then be placed in position, 
by inserting them through the soles of the feet, up within the 
skin of the leg, and through the body of tow, until they ap- 
pear upon the opposite side. With the pincers bend over the 
end of each, forming a hook; the wires must then be pulled 
backwards, thus festoning the hooks firmly into the body. 
The loose skin of the limbs should then be stuffed with cut 
tow, taking care to imitate the muscles of the living subject. 
Nos. 4 id 5 can be fixed in position after the same manner, 
except if the animal is to rest entirely upon its tarsi (as in 



