THE HATUHALISTS’ COMPAHIOK 
21 
tow or cotton, in proportion to the 
amount removed, and a quantity of 
either placed along the hack inside 
the'skin, filling the skin about half 
fulh The piece of wire cut the 1 ength 
of the animal is now filed to a sharp 
point at both ends, and two loops 
made in it; one made so as to come 
between the fore-legs and the other 
so as to come between the hind-legs. 
These loops are intended to pass the 
leg-wires through, they should be 
made just large enough to pass the 
wire through twice. The wire is 
now pushed up through the neck, 
through the skull,and out at the top 
of the head,just above the eyes, the 
other end of the wire is pushed down 
to the extremity of the tail. 
The two remaining wires are each 
filed to a point, and the one measur¬ 
ed for the fore-legs is inserted in 
the palm of one ot the fore-feet, 
and pushed gently up ward, through 
the tow which takes the place of 
flesh on the leg-hone, and through 
the loop in the body-wire, until 
about one inch of wire remains out 
at the bottom of the foot. The other 
end of the wire is now taken and re¬ 
inserted through the loop, so as to 
make H more firm, or, instead of in¬ 
serting it twice, insert it once and 
bind it firmly to the body wire witii 
thread,the wire is then passed down 
the opposite leg and out of the palm 
of the foot. The same opperation 
being repeated with the hind-legs, 
How that the wires are in their 
places, the neck and body should be 
properly filled with tow or cotton, 
but great care should be taken not 
to stuff it tightly. We have always 
stuffed the body very loosely, then, 
as the skin shrinks, instead ot hav- 
a bulged appearance, the skin set¬ 
tles down and draws the body into 
a natural posture. The incision 
which was cut in the skin should 
be sewed up with strong white thread 
(or, in case it is a black animal,black 
thread should be substituted.) taking 
care to part the .hairs, and sew as 
few under as possible. Glass eyes 
of the same size and color as those 
of the animahs s' 
in their sockets 
lould now be placed 
Hend 2ct. stamp for 
list of eyes] or they may be placed 
in from within the skin before the 
stuffing is commenced. The legs, 
tail and head should be arranged in 
their proper position, the hair brush¬ 
ed down,and the animal modeled in 
the posture desired. All this hav¬ 
ing been done, the animal must be 
attached to a board by making four 
holes at proper distances for the leg- 
wires, and placed in a dry, cool room 
to dry. Ho not by any means place 
it in the sun. After the animal is 
thoroughly dried it may be removed 
from the board and placed on what¬ 
ever desired, and the wire project¬ 
ing from the head must be cut off 
close to the skull. 
How, patient reader, do not think 
that you can stuff an animal the 
first time, for it is simply impossible, 
but do not give up and we will 
guarantee you success. We spoiled 
over ten animals in trying to stuff 
one, and gave up all hopes of success 
a number of times, but we finally 
succeeded. If any of our subscrib¬ 
ers desire to be enlightened a little 
more on any part of taxidermy, they 
need only send a 2 cent stamp and 
state what they wish to know, and 
we will answer it to the best of our 
ability. We deal in tow, eyes, etc. 
TO BE CONTINUED. 
Collectors notice our advertise¬ 
ments on the cover. 
