648 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



be very readily done by cutting it through at the 

 ►sides with a strong knife ; but for tortoises it will 

 be necessary to use a saw, in order to separate one 

 side, when the plastron may be elevated and forced 

 from its connexion with the other side, where the 

 bones unite, but before it is raised, let the skin 

 around the legs, tail, and neck, be separated from it. 

 When the specimen is opened all muscle and fat can 

 be easily removed, and the neck, feet, &c, skinned 

 as in other quadrupeds ; which being accomplished, 

 and the preservative applied, these parts should be 

 filled with cotton, to keep them distended to the 

 natural size. The plastron may be confined to the 

 carapace by a piece of twine tied round them, which 

 will answer the purpose until the specimen is finally 

 prepared. 



Lizards may be opened and skinned like other 

 quadrupeds, but especial caution must be observed 

 in skinning the tail, which operation is rendered ex- 

 tremely difficult by the brittleness of that member ; 

 and in such species as possess very long and slender 

 tails it is better not to attempt it. When filling out 

 the skin of such species as possess a gular pouch, 

 attention should be paid to that part, so as to keep 

 its proper size and form ; and when a specimen pos- 

 sesses a dorsal or other crest, it will be well to keep 

 it properly stretched with pins, upon cork, until it 

 is dry, in order to avoid the necessity of relaxing 

 it when the skin is set up. 



In filling out the skins of such species as have 

 very depressed bodies, the operator should carefully 

 preserve the natural form. 



