are given for skinning and preparing
this class of animals for mounting, so with the skin properly cleaned
and poisoned before us the next thing is to cut the wires for a
supporting frame. These are six in number usually, body wire, tail wire
and one for each leg. The body wire is about one-half longer than from
nose to base of tail; tail wire the length of the tail bone and half the
body, and each leg wire twice the length of the leg.

I have spoken of using a muskrat for an initial attempt as it is of a
convenient size to handle and the length of its fur will hide small
defects in the anatomy. Most books of instruction select a squirrel for
the beginner's victim. It is true it is not as difficult as a hairless
Mexican terrier but it is apt to discourage the learner. An opossum will
do very well or any long haired animal of about that size.

We will first reconstruct a hind leg and if it is a fresh specimen being
mounted without a bath in the pickle we can have the opposite leg in the
flesh to guide, as to proper proportions. The wire is passed through the
cut in the bottom of the foot and along the back of the leg bones where
it is secured in about three places by tying with small cord. The end is
left projecting three inches beyond the end of the upper leg bone.

[Illustration: HIND AND FRONT LEG OF MUSKRAT WRAPPED READY TO CLAY AND
RETURN TO SKIN.]

The muscles and flesh are replaced by winding on tow with stout thread
until the approximate size is reached, when the surface is given a thin
coating of clay and the leg is drawn back into its skin. The fore legs
are in the same manner built to the joint with the shoulder blade.

After sharpening the tail wire to a point it is wound with fine tow and
thread and coated with clay until it duplicates the bone and flesh
removed. This is slipped into the tail sheath with the unwound end
projecting into the body and the slit along the lower side of tail sewed
up.

After making a ring about the diameter of a .22 shell on one end of the
body wire place it on your sketch where the hip joint was marked,
letting the wire run lengthwise of the body. Another ring similar is
made at the shoulder. These form the points of attachment for the legs.

[Illustration: WIRING FOR SMALL ANIMALS, FRONT LEG WIRES TWISTED TO BACK
WIRE.]

The skull, cleaned of flesh and poisoned, should have the muscles
replaced with tow and the whole coated with clay. Force a piece of cork
into the ope