136 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



of the body, not getting it like a sack, as is too frequently 

 tlie case, but producing tbose line flowing lines wliicli are so 

 necessary to ensure tlie perfect model of a zoological speci- 

 men. Lift your work up from time to time, noting where 

 inequalities appear. 



The fox being now fairly well shaped, sew it up with a 

 three-cornered skin (or glover's) needle and string. A board 

 is now to be procured, of the necessary length and thickness, 

 in which holes are to be bored to receive the leg wires, which 

 are then clenched underneath. This operation, no doubt, will 

 knock the specimen somewhat out of shape, which, of course, 

 is easily remedied, and having brought up the limbs to their 

 proper position, you will now address yourself to the formation 

 of the head and face. 



This latter will possess but little expression, owing to the nose, 

 &c., being cut out. To remedy this procure a cork, which push 

 into the cavity whence the cartilage of the nose has been removed,, 

 roughly shaping it, and covering ifc over with a pad of putty, 

 pushing some also into the skin of the nostrils at the same time. 

 The imier skin of the lips is still hanging down as a bag. Fill 

 this up with sufficient putty to allow for shrinking, sewing it to 

 the outer skin. 



The lips may now be adjusted in position by sewing the upper 

 to the under, if the fox is to be shown with a closed mouth, or by 

 driving in " needle points " in various positions, if the mouth is 

 to be open, imtil these parts set. Fill in the orbits with putty, 

 attending to the eyebrows, reproducing the various muscles 

 underneath, and insert the artificial eyes. All that now re- 

 mains to be done is to push two pointed wires down the back 

 of the ears, and run them along each edge, finally pushing them 

 in the skin of the head, where required ; the two loose ends being 

 twisted together at the top keep the ears in position. 



The tongue, if intended to be shown, must be removed from the 

 pickle, cut on its imder side, and skinned completely out to the 

 tips and to each edge. All the included flesh must then be cut, 

 away, and replaced with putty, the cut sewn up, and it is then 

 ready to be inserted in the mouth in the required position, when 

 modelled into shape. 



The animal being stuffed and mounted to your satisfaction^ 



