664 



REPOET ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



iuside of the skin with arsenical soap, applying it thoroughly to 

 every part, so that the specimens will not require a second course of 

 poisoning when they reach the museum. That done, rub on powdered 

 alum, all that will stick to the skin, before the arsenical soap has time 

 to dry, so that both will iienetrate the skin together. 



In the absence of arsenical soap, apply a mixture of dry arsenic (one- 

 third) and powdered alum (two-thirds). Whenever the inside of a skiu 

 becomes so dry that the powdered arsenic and alum will not stick, 

 moisten the inside of the skin with water, so that the preservative 

 powder will form a sort of paste which can penetrate the skin. 



Malinfj up. — Having applied the preservatives, wrap a little tow, cot- 

 ton, or rags around the bones of each leg, to iiartly replace the flesh 

 and keep the skin away from the bone, so that both can dry quicklj'. 

 This is also desirable in order that the legs may have a shapely, uatural 

 appearance, and show the pelage, so that it can be studied to good ad- 

 vantage. If this part of the process is neglected, the skin of the leg 

 shrivels up and dries down upon the bone in a most unsightly way. In 

 the tropics, the moisture in a leg-bone is sufficient to cause the decay of 

 the skin which surrounds it, unless the two are well separated by some 

 kind of wrapping. To avoid this, many collectors in tropical countries 

 allow their skins to dry ivrong side out — a very bad habit, which should 

 never be indulged in under any circumstances, as thereby the skins are, 

 in most cases, rendered totally worthless. 



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FiCr. &. — A biidly itiado skin. 



Having wrapped the leg-bones (just enough to bring them to their 

 original size, but no more), turn the skin of each leg riglit side out over 

 the bono and make the member as shapely and natural as your time will 

 allow. 



