274 



TAXIDERMY AND ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



7. Cut the flesh from the thick portion of the tail. 



8. Cut off the head at the first cervical vertebra, and clean 

 the skull as previously described elsewhere, but leave the Jiyoid 

 bone in its place. 



9. Cut the flesh away from the neck vertebrae as well as you 

 can. Be careful not to cut the sternum (or breastbone), which 

 is soft cartilage, and easily cut ; nor the ends of any vertebral 

 processes, nor any soft bones. 



10. If the skeleton is a small one, it is apt to get quite bloody 

 during the operation. Wash it clean, and if necessary soak it 

 in clear water for an hour or two. It will come all the whiter 

 for it in the end. Skeletons of ruminant animals are generally 

 clean enough without that. 



11. Do not poison a rough skeleton with arsenical soap, nor 



FIG. 66. Rough Skeleton of a Small Animal. (After F. A. Lucas.) 



put salt upon it ; so says Mr. Lucas, the osteologist of the Na- 

 tional Museum. The former has a tendency to prevent skele- 

 tons from properly macerating and coming white. Sprinkle dry 

 arsenic upon a skeleton, if anything is necessary to protect it 

 from Dermestes and other insects. Never put alum on a skele- 

 ton. 



12. The last thing is to make up the skeleton into a small, 

 compact bundle, that will pack nicely and economically when 

 dry, and withstand some pressure without breakage. Put the 

 skull in the chest cavity. Fold up the upper joints of the legs, 

 put the foot of each in the pelvis, and the other end in the cav- 

 ity of the chest. Now tie all the legs tightly to the spinal 

 column. (See Fig. C6.) Bend the tail under the pelvis and tie 

 it fast also. Finally, hang the specimen up in the shade and 

 wind, so that it will dry quickty. 



It will be observed that the above process leaves tho body of 



