Another method is to skin and sew up as directed, then take a long wire and stuff the body with cotton or tow, being careful to get the stuffing in smooth, so that no lumps will show on the outside.
Another way is to fill the body with sand, and when the skin has thoroughly dried, make a hole in the under part of the body and let the sand run out.
In either of the above modes the snake should be coiled as soon as stuffed in the shape you want it to remain, and plenty of the solution of corrosive sublimate used over the skin.
Eels, frogs and toads are skinned and stuffed in the same manner as the snake, no frames being used.
ARTICLE X.
DRESSING ALLIGATORS.
Take an alligator, say five feet long, make an incision the full length of the body, on the under side, and skin out all the flesh and bones, as recommended in skinning animals. Scrape off all the fat or flesh that may be left on the inside of the skin, and give it a thorough coat of the preserving powder. Now proceed to stuff it without using any frame. First stuff the legs with cotton or tow, pressing it in very tight—their skin being very tough, there is no danger of stretching it. Sew the neck up, down to the front legs, and stuff tight; now sew up the tail to hind legs and stuff it; then take a piece of pine board, say an inch thick, two inches wide, and twelve inches long, place this inside of the skin, draw the edges together over it, and tack both edges close together on the board, fill the body up to the end of this board, and put in another board in the same way, and again stuff; when the full length of the opening is closed up in this way, before putting in the last section, have the body thoroughly stuffed and put the section in afterward.
The advantage in putting in the board is this: It is almost impossible to sew the skin, and as it is to lay flat, it is much easier to use the boards; they could also be used in the neck and tail, if you wish to lay them straight with the body. Lay the specimen on a flat board, and place his feet and tail as you wish to have them. The eyes should now be removed, some of the solution of corrosive sublimate put in the sockets, then put the glass eyes in with putty or plaster paris. Close the mouth and set a block under the jaw to hold it up while drying. Give the body a thorough wetting with spirits of turpentine, repeating it once a day for three or four days. After the skin becomes well dried give it one or two coats of varnish and you have a fine specimen.
ARTICLE XI.
DESCRIPTION OF FOOT-STOOL.
No. 5.