skull.

Wrap the leg muscles upon the bones same as in a small specimen, except
pull the excelsior rather smooth for the purpose instead of rolling it
in the palms. Make the Achilles tendon in same way and leave back of
thigh off to be stuffed.

When the plaster to hold neck-rod in head is set, anchor the skull by
the rod to the core-board in proper relation to the body. To do this,
run the rod through a hole drilled through the board, clinch rod down
forward and back with a hammer on anvil or vise, and fasten with
staples, or drill a small hole through core-board each side of rod and
tie the rod down with a strong loop of wire twisted down with the
pliers.

Wrap the skull muscles on with excelsior rolled in palms of hands. Wrap
a tail of pulled excelsior laid straight along a wire much smaller than
is used in legs.

[Illustration: Fig. 42.]

Drill the center-board for legs and tail as shown in Fig. 42, which
shows general assembling details. When the legs, head, and tail are
finished, push the head and body-core into place in the skin, shove in
the legs and tail, and wire the legs and tail fast in the center-board
same as head was fastened.

The remainder of the mounting is accomplished in exactly the same way as
the filling and finishing of a small mammal specimen, _i. e._, by
stuffing the neck, body, and back of thighs and finishing the face and
feet with a batch of papier-mache compo. No. 2. If the mouth is to be
open, follow directions given for finishing an entire rug-head.

[Illustration: Fig. 43.]

To hold in the hollow of the flanks, cut several short, strong pieces of
wire, sharpen them to cutting points, push them through the skin along
line of hollow in front of hip, drive them firmly into the core-board,
and then, with cutting pliers clinch their ends down to hold the skin in
and cut off surplus wire, picking the fur out well to cover them. (See
Fig. 43.)

[Illustration: Fig. 44.]

To support the compo.-filled ears until set and dry, drive a sharpened
wire into the head, through hollow of ear. Point the wire in direction
ear is to lay or stand and between ear and wire lay a loose, flat wad of
cotton or tow. With a furrier's needle and thread take a narrow loop
through center of ear near tip and tie lightly around wire to hold
until dry. When dry remove the thread with scissors and the wires by a
slight twist with pliers.

Mammals of the sizes named may be mounted so skillfully by this method