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THE TAXIDERMIST'S GUIDE. 



CHAP. I. 



SKINNING, PREPARING, AND MOUNTING THE MAMMALIA, 

 OR QUADRUPEDS. 



SKINNING. 



When a quadruped is killed, and its skin intended for stuffing, 

 the preparatory steps are to lay the animal on its back, and plug 

 up its nostrils, mouth, and any wounds it may have received, 

 with cotton or tow, to prevent the blood from disfiguring the 

 skin. The fox will serve admirably our purpose as an example. 

 Therefore, Reynard being procured, we need not say how, lay 

 him on his back in the same position as before recommended ; 

 and, having first stuffed the mouth with cotton and tied it up, and 

 measured his neck and body with rule and calipers, and noted 

 them, proceed. Make an incision from the last rib nearly to the 

 vent, but not quite up to it. Having done so, proceed to raise the 

 skin all round the incision as far as the thighs, first skinning one 

 side and then the other, using the flat end of the knife in prefer- 

 ence to the blade to raise the skin. Having reached the hind 

 legs, separate the latter at the femur or thigh-bone, close to the 

 back-bone, leaving the legs attached to the skin. Now skin the 

 head-quarters close up to the tail, and separate it from the body 

 at the last vertebrae, taking care not to injure the skin. Puli the 

 skin over the heads of the hip-joints, and now the carcase may be 



