When beginning work, lay the specimen upon its back and with a sharp scalpel loosen the large thorax plate around its edge and remove it carefully with head and antennae left attached intact.
Separate tail entire from body meat. Split it along fleshy under side and remove muscles from it with the scalpel.
The legs will come apart and must be kept in natural order. If the claws are large and meaty, cut a round hole in under side of thick part and scrape meat out. Apply arsenic-water to all inner surfaces.
Cut wires of suitable size for all the legs. Have them enough longer than the legs so that a sharpened end will protrude to run through and clinch in the body core. Push wires in full length of legs. ([Fig. 30.] shows the details of making the body core of fine excelsior.) Make the core of a size to fit a little loosely into shell of body and tail.
Fig. 30.
Set legs upon core as shown in [Fig. 31]. When the legs are properly anchored, cover the core with enough of compo. No. I. so it will fit snugly into thorax and tail shells. Place these upon the core now and press them accurately into position.