CHAPTER V. 



COLLECTING AND PRESERVING THE SKINS OF LARGE 



MAMMALS. 



THE fundamental principles to be observed in skinning- a 

 large mammal are, in general, precisely the same as those which 

 govern the same process in small mammals, and which have 

 been recorded in detail in the preceding chapter. Having done 

 my best to afford the student a clear and full understanding of 

 those principles, it is almost unnecessary to say anything about 

 large mammals. A keen-witted worker could skin any mammal 

 and preserve the skin by the light of the directions already 

 given, with such variations as common-sense would dictate. 



But, in order to aid the student to the fullest extent, we will 

 endeavor to state the exceptions and variations of method which 

 are necessary in disposing of large subjects. 



MEASUREMENTS. Up to this hour there has been a total lack of 

 system and uniformity among naturalists and hunters in tak- 

 ing measurements of large quadrupeds. I have in several im- 

 portant cases found it utterly impossible to interpret the mean- 

 ing of measurements taken by other collectors and it is very 

 likely they have experienced the same difficulty in understand- 

 ing mine. In the hope of securing uniformity hereafter in ob- 

 servations of this kind, I venture to propose the following sys- 

 tem, which will apply to all terrestrial mammals larger than th:- 

 fox, except the large quadrumana. If the method here proposed 

 is rigidly adhered to, it will produce a uniformity in results 

 that will certainly increase the value of specimens collected 

 hereafter. The measurements are listed in the order of their 

 importance, and are fully indicated in the accompanying illus- 

 tration (Plate LLI.). Straight lines indicate straight measure- 



