Fig. 12.
The next step in handily skinning a mammal is to peel out the feet through their incisions, severing toes at base and leaving them complete in the skin. Peel the leg skins back over ankles and wrists (see [Fig. 13]).
Fig. 13.
If tail was split, peel it down next, beginning at tip. Now return to the abdominal incision and neatly peel the skin from the body, in many instances using only the thumb nail for loosening it.
When the thighs are encountered, bend hind legs back and sever hip joints from pelvis (see [Fig. 13]), cutting carefully through the large muscles so that the skin on opposite side of them may not be punctured.
When the hind legs are cut free, peel around back of pelvis, loosening skin to base of tail. Set the specimen upon its head end and, with thumb and finger nails of left hand, grasp skin about the base of tail while with right hand strip tail out with force.
Next peel the body down to shoulders. Hang large specimen up by cord tied about loins, the more handily to finish the skinning.