16 



THE TAXIDERMIST S GUIDE. 



there should be much less stuffing put into them than is usual 

 with quadrupeds, so that they may the more easily bend. No 

 wires are required in this case. The head and feet are drawn 

 clos3 together under the belly ; then place the animal on its back 

 in the middle of a large cloth, and tie the four ends firmly 

 together ; suspend it in the air till thoroughly dry, which finishes 

 the operation. 



If Hedgehogs are wished with the heads and limbs exposed, 

 the usual method of mounting is adopted. The skins of Mice, 

 Moles, &c, having a very offensive smell, it will be necessary to 

 add a considerable portion of the tincture of musk to the solution 

 of the corrosive sublimate with which the skins are imbued. 

 The same applies to Badgers, Wolverenes, Polecats and Skunks, 

 all of which are strong smelling animals. 



BEARS. 



The structure of the wires requires to be different in these 

 larger animals from any we have before described. 



Procure a bar one inch thick, two inches broad, and as long as 

 to reach horizontally from the shoulders to the connection of the 

 thighs, or os pubis. A hole is bored four inches distant from one 

 of its ends, from which a connecting groove must be formed, 

 extending on both sides to the end of the plank next the hole ; 

 this groove must be cut out with a hollow chisel deep enough 

 to receive the wire. The wire is then passed through it, one end 

 of which is just long enough to be twisted with the other at the 

 end of the plank. The wire on both sides is now pressed down 

 into the grooves and twisted firmly together by the aid of a pair 

 of strong pincers. Pierce some holes obliquely into the groove 

 and insert some wire nails into them, which must be firmly 

 driven home, and then bent over the wires to keep them firm. 

 The longest end of the wire should be at least eighteen inches 

 beyond the bar so as to pass through the skull of the animal. 



The use of this bar, it will be observed, is a substitute for the 

 central or supporting wires of the body. Two other holes are 

 now bored into it, the one two, and the other three inches from 

 the end which we first pierced ; these are for the reception of 

 the wires of the fore legs ; and two similar holes must be made 

 at the o'jier extremity of the bar for receiving the wires of the 

 hind leiis. 



