82 the taxidermist's guide. 



In skeletons of the Horse, the Ox, the Hippopotamus, the 

 Rhinoceros, the Camel, and the Elephant, the links of wire which 

 we have above described, are insufficient to unite their bones ; for 

 these, two iron pegs are used with a head at one end and a screw 

 at the other Each screw is provided with a nut, and each pair 

 of screws must have a narrow plate of iron bored at each end to 

 pass the screw through. Supposing the bones of the leg or thigh 

 of a large quadruped are to be united, a hole is bored through the 

 apophysis, about two inches from the extremity, and the same hav- 

 ing been done with both leg and thigh-bones, they are brought 

 together, and one of the screws passed into one of the holes of the 

 plates which he have mentioned, and then through the perfora- 

 tions in the bone, and lastly into the other plate ; they are tight- 

 ened together by means of the nut. The screws should be nearly 

 an inch longer than the thickness of the bones. The two ends of 

 lhe bones are tkus united and supported by the two plates which 

 are kept together by the screws. Provision must be made for the 

 play of the bones, by leaving a sufficient distance in boring the 

 holes, through which the pegs are passed. 



The Horse and other animals require a double bar to support 

 them. A bar is also passed through the vertebra? of the neck, 

 spine, and tail, and the ribs are attached by means of wires, or 

 flat pieces of plate iron. 



In these larger animals, the heads are for the most part sawn 

 through, for the purpose of studying the structure of the internal 

 cavity and partitions. These are kept together by means of a 

 hinge, so that they can be opened and shut at pleasure. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE CHASE AND MANNER OF COLLECTING ANIMALS. 



Quadrupeds and Birds. — It i3 hardly necessary to recommend 

 a double-barrelled gun. One of the barrels should be loaded with 

 small shot or dross of lead for small birds, and the other with 

 large shot. These should have much less powder than an ordinary 

 charge, so as not to tear and injure the animals. Paper, cotton, 

 or flax, and powdered dry earthen ashes should form part of the 

 naturalist's stores. 



