tion. No wrinkles, however, or unnecessary folds should be left 

 in the skin. 



In skinning the larger animals, the skull may generally be re- 

 moved entirely, and thus the labor of preparation greatly reduced. 

 In this case the skull can be cleaned separately, by boiling until 

 the flesh becomes soft and easily removed, or the raw flesh may be 

 cut away, the brain extracted, and the skull dried rapidly by ex- 

 posure to the air and sun. It can at any time afterwards be 

 cleaned more perfectly. The preservation of the skull is a matter 

 of the highest importance. 



Skins of large animals may readily be converted into pliable 

 leather, by rubbing on salt, alum and soft soap, continuing the 

 operation for a considerable length of time. When the skin be- 

 comes nearly dry, it should then be pounded or rubbed all over, 

 until the desired softness is obtained. 



The skeletons of all kinds of mammals, even of the commonest 

 species, should be collected. These may be roughly prepared by 

 cutting away the meat, and allowing the bones to dry in the air. 

 The skeleton may be dismembered, and the ribs separated from 

 the vertebrae. The bones of each leg should, however, be left 

 attached to each other, if possible. The skull may be cleaned by 

 boiling. Where there is an opportunity, it will be well to soak 

 the bones in water for a few hours to remove the blood. 



A perfectly dry skin will keep very well without any application 

 of preservative material, provided the insects are excluded. To 

 this end each specimen may be separately enveloped in paper. 

 Tobacco leaves in layers between skins, and covering them, will 

 be a sure protection against most adult insects; and in the absence 

 of tobacco, any highly pungent or odoriferous substance, as the arte- 

 misia or sage, and larrea of the western plains, may be employed. 



In preparing skins of any kind, it is a matter of prime import- 

 ance not to use any animal substance, as wool, hair, or feathers, 

 for stuffing. 



Skins of mammals and birds, especially if at all greasy and not 

 thoroughly freed from muscle, are very liable to the attacks of 

 small beetles, as Dermestes, &c., when boxed up for any length of 

 time, especially in the field, and valuable collections have frequent- 

 ly been entirely destroyed by them in less than a month. An 

 occasional examination should therefore be made of such collec- 

 tions. Whenever possible, it will be well to envelop each speci- 



