480 THE ANIMALS AND MAN 



containing the following data: name of bird, number of 

 eggs in set, date and locality, name of collector, and any 

 special information about the eggs or nest which the collector 

 may think advisable. The eggs may be kept in drawers 

 or boxes lined with cotton, and divided into little compart- 

 ments. 



For detailed directions for collecting and preserving birds' 

 eggs and nests, see Bendire's "Directions for Collecting, 

 Preparing, and Preserving Birds' Eggs and Nests, "or Davie's 

 "Methods in the Art of Taxidermy," pp. 74-78. 



*Mammals. Any mammal intended for a scientific speci- 

 men should be measured in the flesh, before skinning, and 

 as soon after death as practicable, when the muscles are 

 still flexible. (This is particularly true of larger species, 

 such as foxes, wildcats, etc.) The measurements are taken 

 in millimetres, a rule or steel tape being used, (i) Total 

 length : stretch the animal on its back along the rule or tape 

 and measure from the tip of the nose (head extended as far 

 as possible) to the tip of the fleshy part of tail (not to end of 

 hairs). (2) Tail: bend tail at right angles from body back- 

 ward and place end of ruler in the angle, holding the tail 

 taut against the ruler. Measure only to tip of flesh (make 

 this measurement with a pair of dividers). (3) Hind foot: 

 place sole of foot flat on ruler and measure from heel to tip 

 of longest toe-nail (in certain small mammals it is necessary 

 to use dividers for accuracy). The measurements should 

 be entered on the label, along with such necessary data as 

 sex, locality, date, and collector's name. 



Skin a mammal as soon after death as possible. Lay 

 mammal on back and with scissors or scalpel open the 

 skin along belly from about midway between fore and hind 

 legs to vent, taking care not to cut muscles of abdomen. 

 Skin down on either side of the body by working the skin 

 from flesh with fingers till hind legs appear. Use corn- 

 meal to stanch blood or moisture. With left hand grasp 



*The following directions for making skins of mammals were written 

 for this book by Professor W. K. Fisher of Stanford University, an experi- 

 enced collector. 



