APPENDIX. 283 



Large forms may be skinned and preserved according to the 

 directions already given for Mammals and Birds. Small specimens 

 should be kept in alcohol, after making an incision low down on the 

 side, by simply inserting a penknife at as small an angle to the 

 surface as will permit the point to enter the cavity of the abdomen. 

 After a few days, alcoholic specimens should be changed into fresh 

 alcohol at least 80 proof. Glycerine may be substituted for alcohol, 

 when it is desirable to preserve the colors. 



HINTS FOR PREPARING LIGAMENTAL SKELETONS 

 OF THE VERTEBRATES. 



First remove all the muscle that can be conveniently taken off 

 with knife and scissors, but leave the ligaments around the joints. 

 The specimen should next be macerated (soaked) in soft water, with 

 the addition of a little soda of potash, changing the water daily for 

 a week, and then leaving it till the remaining muscle can be scraped 

 off with the finger-nail or a tooth-brush, and the rotted brain be 

 rinsed out with water. At this stage, while the skeleton is held 

 beneath the surface of clean water, all fibers may be snipped off 

 with scissors without injuring the ligaments, and the bones thoroughly 

 cleaned without scraping them with any hard instrument. Next run 

 a wire down the spinal cavity and bend the backbone into any 

 desired position. Finally, hang up the skeleton by threads till dry. 



Any animal larger than a fox should be cleaned, in the manner 

 already described, of every thing, even to the ligaments, and the 

 bones wired together. Small skeletons of the size of a rat can be 

 made ready for maceration and then put into a perforated box and 

 placed in an ant-hill. These insects will quickly remove all the flesh, 

 and the skeleton should be taken away as soon as they begin to 

 attack the ligaments, or the ligaments poisoned with corrosive subli- 

 mate, while the ants continue their work on the softer parts. Follow- 

 ing these general directions, a little experience and a great deal of 

 patience and perseverance will insure success. 



HOMOLOGIES OF THE VERTEBRATES. 



A comparison of Figs. 367, 378, 422, and 425, illustrating the 

 anatomy of some of the various orders of Mammals, shows a remark- 

 able similarity of structure. Thus, while the figure arid size of the 



