6 
HINTS ON TAXIDERMY. 
from time to time, be placed between the skin and body, as it will prevent 
the hair from being soiled. This operation should be repeated with the 
other side. Next the intestinal canal should be cut off a little way above 
the anus, and the tail separated close to the body. The skin should then 
be loosened from the back and breast until the fore-legs are visible. Sever 
these at the shoulder joint or the base of the humerus. Remove the skin 
from the neck and the back part of the skull will appear. In skinning 
over the skull, care should be taken to sever the ears as close to it as 
possible; also not to injure the eyelids or cut too close to the lips. The 
carcass should next be separated from the skull at the first vertebrae, or 
the junction of the skull and neck. The next operation is to remove the 
tongue, eyes, and all the muscles attached to the head. Through an opening 
in the occipital bone, carefully clean out the brain. Next the legs should 
be skinned quite down to the claws of the feet, removing all muscles, 
but leaving the ligaments and tendons of the knees. The hind legs 
should undergo the same operation. Lastly, skin the tail as far back as 
the first three joints of the vertebrae, and to this stump fix a stout cord, 
which should be fastened to a hook or other projecting object on the wall. 
A strong piece of wood is then prepared, flat, and sharpened upon both 
edges. This should be introduced between the skin and the vertebrae, 
and by working it around the latter, the attachments will be severed and 
the vertebrae within can be easily pulled from the enveloping skin. In 
skinning the tail of the beaver an incision should be made upon the under 
side, running lengthwise from the base to the tip. The skin should then 
be loosened, beginning upon either side of the incision, until the flesh is 
entirely free, when it can be removed, the arsenic added, the skin restored 
to position, and the incision sewed up. 
The foregoing method is practised only upon the smaller quadrupeds; 
with the larger mammalia a different course is pursued. An incision is 
made from beneath the under jaw, in a straight line to the anus; trans¬ 
verse cuts are also made, running down the inside of both fore and hind 
legs. These being made upon the inner side will render the seams less 
conspicuous after the specimen has been mounted. To detach the hoofs, 
place them upon a stone and strike them repeatedly with a mallet; they 
will soon loosen and can be separated from the bone. After the operation 
of skinning has been completed, every part of the skin should be anointed 
thoroughly with arsenical soap. Turpentine applied to the nostril and 
lips will prevent the approach of noxious insects. When the skin is too 
large for the application of the soap, it should be thoroughly saturated 
