50 THE TAXIDERMIST'S GUIDE. 



such a manner that the shoulders f orm a ring for the passage o1 

 the windpipe and gullet. 



After the turtle is opened, all the flesh which adheres to the, 

 breast-plate, and also to the upper shell, is removed, while atten* 

 tion is paid to the parts as above described. The head, fore-feet, 

 and tail are skinned as in quadrupeds ; but none of these must ba 

 removed from the upper shell, but left attaciied. 



All the fleshy parts being removed, the shells are washed out 

 with a sponge, and carefully dried. They are then slightly rubbed 

 with the arsenical soap. 



Stuffing. — Wires are now passed through the middle of the 

 legs, after the skin has been rubbed with the preservative. The 

 skull is returned to its place, and the whole of the head, neck, and 

 legs stuffed with chopped flax or tow. The parts of the skin 

 which have»been cut are then sewed together. The back and 

 breast plates are then united by four small holes, being bored at 

 their edges, and united by strings or small wires. The junction 

 of the bones may then be attached with the cement, colored so as 

 to correspond with the shell. 



If the calipash is dirty, it may be cleaned with a slight solution 

 of nitric-acid and water ; afterwards clean washed, oiled, and then 

 rubbed hard with a woollen rag, to give it a polish. 



CROCODILES AND LIZARDS IK GENERAL. 



Skinning. — All this tribe are skinned in the same manner as 

 quadrupeds. Care is, however, required in skinning the tails of 

 the smaller species, as they are very liable to break. The skins 

 being of a dry nature, require but little of the preservative. After 

 they are thoroughly dried they will keep a very long time without 

 decay. • 



Stuffing. — Stuff them as directed for quadrupeds. They ad- 

 mit of but litle variety of attitude. The small species are exceed- 

 ingly apt to change color in drying ; which must be imitated with 

 the colored varnishes, and afterwards dimmed with sand paper. 

 To keep them in their natural colors, they should be preserved in 

 spirits. 



The skins of such as are glossy should be varnished after they 

 are perfectly dry. 



