SKINNING. 13 



shoulders and junction of the neck. This part of the animal is of 

 great importance, as regards the perfection of its form ; and much 

 of its beauty will depend upon this being well executed. 



If the animal has been recently skinned, the best plan possible 

 is to imitate, as nearly as possible, the muscles of the carcase ; by 

 which many parts will be noticed which might otherwise have 

 been neglected. As a rule, copy Nature whenever you have 



IT IN YOUR POWER. 



It must be observed as a general rule, that the wires for the 

 hind legs of quadrupeds should alwaj^s be longer than those of 

 the fore legs. 



The next thing is to form the hind legs and thighs, which must 

 be done, as aboye described for the fore legs ; but with this dif- 

 ference, that they must be wound round with thread, drawn 

 through the stuffing at intervals, to prevent it slipping up when 

 returned into the skin of the leg. They are then fixed, by pass- 

 ing the leg wires into a second ring of the centre body wire, 

 which is situated at or near the pelvis ; the two ends are then 

 bent, twisting them to the right and left around the ring : and to 

 make them still more secure, they should be wound round with 

 small brass wire or packthread ; the tail-bearer is then attached 

 in the manner formerly described. 



Having completed this part of the iron work, the skin of the 

 thighs is coated inside with the preservative, and the stuffing com- 

 pleted with chopped flax or tow. The whole inner parts of the 

 skin which can be reached are again anointed, and the body 

 stuffing completed with chopped flax. Care must be also paid not 

 to stuff the belly too much, as the skin very easily dilates. The in- 

 cision in the belly is now closed by bringing the skin together, and 

 then sewed wdthin and without ; while attention is paid to divide 

 the hairs, and not to take any of them in along with the thread ; 

 but should any of them be inadvertently fixed, they can be picked 

 out easily with a point. When this is completed, the hair will 

 resume its natural order, and completely conceal the seam. 



The seam should now be well primed, on both sides, with 

 the solution of corrosive sublimate, to prevent the entrance of 

 moths. 



The articulations of the legs are then bent, and the animal 

 placed on its fee* ; and pressure used at the natural flat places, scv 

 as to mako V^ o 4 hr>r ^rt* rre vivr™ f^ »*»— ^i*<i — ^ — " ] -> 



