SKINNING. 9 



bone. In addition to these, note, by measurement with caliper 

 compasses, the size of the head, the neck, the tail, and other 

 points which affect the shape of the animal. These measure- 

 ments will serve as a guide in stuffing, and for the size of the case 

 and length of the mounting wires. In the process of skinning, it 

 is important to avoid penetrating to the intestines, or separating 

 any of the abdominal muscles which lead to the intestines ; any 

 such accident would be very disagreeable, as well as injurious to 

 the skin. 



STUFFING QUADRUPEDS, ETC. 



Let us suppose the animal which we intend to stuff, to be a Cat. 

 Wire of such a thickness is chosen as will support the animal by 

 being introduced under the soles of the feet, and running it 

 through each of the four legs. A piece of smaller dimensions is 

 then taken, measuring about two feet, for the purpose of forming, 

 what is termed by stuffers, a tail-bearer. This piece of wire is 

 bent at nearly a third of its length, into an oval of about six 

 inches in length ; the two ends are twisted together, so as to leave 

 one of them somewhat longer than the other ; the tail is then cor- 

 rectly measured, and the wire is cut to the length of it, besides 

 the oval. The wire is then wrapped round with flax in a spiral 

 form, which must be increased in thickness as it approaches the 

 oval, so as to be nearly equal to the dimensions of the largest ver- 

 tebrae, or root of the tail. When finished, it should be rubbed 

 thinly over with flour paste, to preserve its smooth form, which 

 must be allowed to dry thoroughly, and then the surface should 

 receive a coating of the preservative. The sheath of the tail must 

 now be rubbed inside with the preservative. This is applied with 

 a small quantity of lint, attached to the end of a wire, long enough 

 to reach the point of the tail-sheath. The tail-bearer is then in- 

 serted into the sheath, and the oval part of the wire placed within 

 the skin of the belly, and attached to the longitudinal wire, which 

 is substituted for the vertebras or back-bone. 



Four pieces of wire, about the thickness of a crow-quill, are 

 then taken, which must be the length of the legs, and another 

 piece a foot or fifteen inches longer than the body. One end of 



