HOW TO COLLECT MAMMAL SKINS FOR PURPOSES OF STUDY AND 



FOR MOUNTING.* 



By \\'iLLiAM T. ilouNADAY, Chief Taxidermist^ U. S. National Mu- 

 seum. 



GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 



It is ii simple matter to prepare the skin of an ordinary quadrupetl, 

 provided the operator is uot afraid of getting a little blood on his hands, 

 and is not naturally indisposed to physical exertion. A few minutes- 

 work suffices for the skin of a small mammal, and a few hours for a 

 large one, up to the size of a buftalo. With a sharp knife, detailed in- 

 structions, some cheap preservatives, and a little patient labor, the 

 thing is done. One specimen properly prepared 'in the field is worth 

 ten that have been slighted. 



The great principle which is the foundation of all valuable field work 

 on mammal skins is this : A skin must be taken off, cleaned ofjlcsh, and 

 preserved so that the preservative poicder or fluid can act directly iipoii the 

 roots of the hair from the inner side of the skin, and over every portion of 

 its surface. Neither alum, nor salt, nor alcohol (unless it be of great 

 strength) can strike through a thick layer of flesh and i)enetrate through 

 the skin to the epidermis quickly enough to save it from decomposition. 

 The epidermis of most animals is of such a close and oily nature that 

 preservatives can not strike through it from without, and therefore when 

 a skin is removed, it must be cleaned of flesh and fat, so that the pre- 

 servative liquid or dry powder can cojne immediately in contact with 

 the cutis. 



SELECTION OF SPECIMENS. 



When specimens are sufficiently numerous to allow of a choice of in- 

 dividuals for preservation, select first the finest, largest, and most i)er- 

 fect old male and female. Young animals of every kind are very de- 

 sirable, and specimens should be taken whenever possible. Of animals 

 that are known, or even supposed, to be rare, i)reserve the first speci- 



* A portion of this article— tbut relatin<j to tho preservation of skins for mount- 

 ing— has already been publisliecl in the Proceedinrjs of the Xational Museum for 188:5, 

 under the title, ''Brief Directions for Removing and Preserving tho Skins of Mam- 

 mals." The appearance of this circular is in response to a demand for detailed in- 

 structions for tho preparation of skiu3.in a dry state for tho purposes of study. 



G59 



