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6 
The following plan may also be pursued. Let the fish be split 
lengthwise, carefully preserving the fins and tail on one half ; then 
separate the skin from the flesh, fat, &c. Afterwards, having 
washed it, as previously directed, fasten it on a board, giving if the 
natural appearance, by packing tow or other substances under- 
neath ; lastly varnish it. 
Serpents, Frogs, Lizards, fyc. may be skinned through their 
mouths, by opening their jaws, and dividing the rack bone high 
up; care being taken not to cut the skin When die bodies are 
too large to pass through the mouth, make an incision on the side 
of the neck, divide the body, and take it out in two pieces. Hav- 
ing washed the skin as usual, turn the true side out, and holding it 
suspended by the jaws, pour in sufficient sand, saw-dust, or bran, 
to completely fill the whole length. In skinning lizards, care must 
be taken not to break their tails. Snakes previous to drying, 
should be placed as nearly as possible in their natural position, and 
then varnished. Where time will not admit of paying the above 
attention, the skins, properly washed and dried, and dusted with 
pepper, or other strong aromatics, might be packed away and 
brought in that state. 
Tortoises may be preserved, by separating the skin of the hind 
extremities from the upper shell ; the lower shell may be separated 
at its junction with the upper, drawing out the legs and neck. 
After washing, fill with sand and dry. Procure a male and female 
when practicable. If any of the above be too large to be pre- 
served in the manner above mentioned, the skeletons may he kept; 
removing as much of the flesh as can conveniently he done, and 
drying the bones without taking them apart, if convenient, wash 
occasionally whilst drying, with No. 2 or No. 5. Pack in tow, 
moss, leaves, dry sand, &c; if too long to pack easy, divide into 
two or three parts. 
QUADRUPEDS. 
When small, they may be preserved in spirits, or in No. 4, 5, 6, 
or 7 ; but when large they should be skinned ; care being taken to 
leave the bones of the feet and head in. (The brains of course 
being removed.) If the whole skull cannot be preserved, let the 
jaws be sent. To procure the skin, cut it open on the belly of the 
animal, turning back the hairs to the right and left ; separate it 
from the body, and skin out the hind legs without splitting the skin. 
Detach the tail, and continue to strip the skin off of the body un- 
til you come to the fore legs ; serving these as you did the hind 
ones, go on separating as far as the skull, and if possible, skin over 
the head, until you reach the jaws, and cut away all the flesh. 
Separate the body at the skull. Having washed the inside as di- 
rected in the preceding section, -filled with tow, &c. and sprinkled 
the exterior, the skin is ready for packing?. No directions are given 
for mounting animals, as this woul require more time, and such 
specimens would take up more room, than could conveniently be 
spared* J^articularJy on board of ships* Skeletons of animals 
