284 TAXIDERMY AND ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



the chloride of lime will soon destroy them if they remain in it 

 too long". 



The following 1 skeletons, adult in every case, require to be 

 left in this solution a length of time as stated herewith : Dog 1 , G 

 hours ; sheep, 6 hours ; deer, 8 ; buffalo, 12 ; elephant, 12. 



After remdving the bones from this bath, wash them with 

 clear water, lay them in slat-bottomed trays, with cheese-cloth 

 above the slats, without piling- one bone upon another, and ex- 

 pose them a number of days in the hot sun. After they have 

 bleached on the upper side, turn them over. If it does not rain 

 upon them occasionally, they should be sprinkled with w r ater, 

 late in the evening or early in the morning, to hasten the 

 process. 



Great care is necessary to keep the tiny carpal, tarsal, and 

 phalangeal bones from getting lost. When the bones are white 

 as chalk, or nearly so, tie the parts of each skeleton in a stout- 

 paper bag by itself, label it, and put it away until you are ready 

 to mount it. 



The sternum is to be soaked in clear water, with a little wash- 

 ing soda to cut the grease, until it is soft, and then scraped the 

 same as the bones of a ligamentary skeleton, which process will 

 be described in the next chapter. 



