SKINNING, PRESERVING, AND MOUNTING REPTILES. 191 



skinning a snake, as they must be carefully cut all around tlie 

 mouth, and the body drawn out to the tips of the toes. They 

 may then be filled with sand or plaster. Various comic scenes 

 may be made by skilfully grouping frogs, but if required to stand 

 on their hind legs, &c., they will have to be wired, by pushing 

 fine wires or stout "needle points" through a small piece of 

 board into the sole of the foot, to run a little distance up the 

 legs. A drop or two of strong glue, or shellac, may then be 

 placed under each foot, which should be tied down until the 

 glue sets hard. 



Tortoises and turtles may be skinned out, by having the skin 

 of the legs, tail, and head, cut away all round from their attach- 

 ments to the under shell or plastron. The joints of the limbs 

 should then be cut away from the inside, and the tortoise or 

 turtle laid on its back, in which position the separated limbs 

 hang down, remaining only attached by their top skin (now 

 underneath), to the upper part of the shell or carapace. This 

 exposes the whole of the remaining skin and flesh, which must be 

 ■cut and scraped out with knives, or with the under-cutting tool. 

 The limbs are then skinned out, preserved and stuffed, and 

 their proper bottom edges, when in position, pushed back and 

 attached by needle points to the plastron. 



Lizards, " horned toads," and chameleons may be cut under- 

 neath and filled out with sand or plaster. 



In all cases where sand is used it may, after the animal is 

 thoroughly dry, be shaken out if desired ; but if the reptile is 

 not very large, it is better to leave it in. 



Dry plaster will, in nearly all cases, be found the best medium 

 for filling out the skins of reptiles ; with this I have succeeded in 

 giving characteristic and life-like attitudes to moderately-sized 

 alligators, &c. 



Yery large saurians may be mounted by either of the methods 

 referred to in the closing sentences of the last two chapters. 



