the first and important step is to plug up the
nostrils and throat with cotton-wool or tow, as also any wound from
which blood may escape. Place the animal on its back, make a
longitudinal incision with the knife at the lower part of the belly
(the vent), and thence in as straight a line as possible extending
to the chin bone, taking particular care that during the operation
the hair is carefully divided and not cut. Vertical incisions may
then be made extending down the inside of each leg to the claws. The
skin can then be turned back in every direction as far as the extent
of the incisions will admit of--the legs may now be freed from the
skin. Next make a straight incision down the under part of the tail
to the tip, turn the skin back until it is free. Having executed this,
there remains only to remove the skin from the back and head; to do
this place the carcase on its side, and with the scalpel carefully
separate the skin by drawing it towards the head, in skinning which
care being taken to cut the ears as close to the skull as possible,
leaving the cartilage in the skin; the eyelids, also nose and lips,
should be carefully skinned without injury. The skin is now free from
the carcase. Turn the ears inside out, the nostrils, lips, and feet,
removing all cartilage and flesh.

Place the skin open on the ground with the fur side down, and remove
the flesh and pieces of fat adhering; scrape the skin well, so as
to get away all the loose particles of under-skin or pelt. When this
has been thoroughly done, take powdered alum plentifully, and, with
a _very_ small quantity of common salt, rub well into the skin,
especially into the ears, nostrils, lips, and feet, so that every
portion of the skin is powerfully impregnated. Allow the skin to lie
in this condition for an hour or so, then place it on a line or branch
to dry. The operation should be carried on in the shade, if possible.

If the specimen is not for stuffing it may be pegged out to dry on
the ground, but in no one instance should a skin be unduly strained
out of shape, which is often done in order to make it appear larger
than it really is, a mistake which is very common.

When this operation is completed, and the skin dry, it is ready for
packing, and should be folded, with the fur or hair inside, and placed
in a sound box or case well protected against the visits of ants,
beetles, or moth.

Where it is intended that the animal should be ultimately stuffed