668 



REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



ill a dry state there is no alternative. They mast bo handled carefully 

 when handled at all, and when prepared for shipment must hn 2>ocl-cd 

 on all sides with straiv, shai'lngs, hay, or some other soft material, whieli 

 will keep the hair away from the sides of the box. A large elk skin 



Fig. 9. — A l-adly made dry deer skiu. 



r('(;ently received by the Maseam was ruined by not being packed 

 properly. There was no filling around it to keep it away from the 

 rough boards of the box, and consequently the hair was rubbed off in 

 about twenty places. 



PRESERVING SKINS FOR MOUNTING. 



A great many collectors aiul sportsmen are often specially called upon 

 to procure skins for immediate mounting, and it is always desired that 

 these should be as perfect in every respect as possible. 



Let me here call the attention of all collectors to the following fact : 



A mammal sTcin lohich has never been dried and hardened can he mounted 

 in one third less time and with far greater accuracy tlian the hcst dry shin 

 of the same kind. 



This being the case, it is certainly worth while to preserve skins in a 

 soft state. A skin nujy be removed very unskillfully, but if kept soft 

 until it reaches the taxidermist, it can be mounted with gratifying suc- 

 cess. On the other hand, the dry skins of the most experienced collector 

 can be mounted well only with difficulty. 



The following methods are recommended : 



In a temperate climate. — Under ordinary circumstances, in a temperate 

 climate a skin may be preserved in a soft state by rubbing salt very 

 thoroughly on the inside, and then leaving the skiu turned wrong-side 



