EQUIPMENT, ARMS, AND SPECIMENS 753 
skin over the base of the skull, which is very little broader 
than the neck. The lips in these animals need particular 
care, as they are usually mounted with their mouths open 
and should, therefore, be cut far back along the base of 
the teeth, which will give them the greatest possible length. 
Owing to the refractory nature of the heavy skin of the 
hippopotamus, the head skin must be cut down the entire 
length of the median ventral side from the chin to the chest. 
The rhinoceros head skin should be cut down the median 
line of the nape. Giraffe require similar treatment, the cut 
here following along the dorsal mane, which occupies the 
median line of the nape, and then forking at the horns and 
extending up the inside of each of the large horns and across 
their tips, as they require skinning to preserve their hair 
covering. The head of the elephant offers some exceptions 
to the general rule and is the only case, with the exception of 
the hippopotamus, in which the cut down the throat is pref¬ 
erable or rather allowable. After making the circular cut 
at the withers and shoulders, make a second extending from 
the tip of the trunk along the median line of the under side 
to the mouth, and through the chin down the midline of the 
throat to the chest. The great ears must be especially 
treated by a cut on their back or inside extending from the 
base or point of insertion back of the auditory meatus to 
the extreme tip or angle marking the termination of the 
folded upper border. From this longitudinal cut the carti¬ 
lage can be separated from the skin by cutting it free and 
then skinning down both surfaces of it as far toward the 
ear margin as possible without cutting through the skin 
which here is quite thin. When the ear cartilage has been 
skinned out as far as possible it should be severed along the 
