32 



and skeletons for a museum is undoubtedly, after cutting away tlie 

 greater mass of flesh, that of macerating, or allowing them to remain 

 in cold water until the decaying flesh separates from the bones. 

 At first, the water, as it becomes charged with blood, is poured 

 ofi" and replaced by fresh ; after this is repeated for a time, the 

 flesh becomes bleached, and the bones may then be suffered to 

 remain as long as necessary (sometimes for weeks), removing the 

 specimen from time to time and scraping off the softening flesh. 

 After this has been all removed and the bones well scrubbed under 

 water with a stiff brush, they should be soaked a little longer to 

 remove any remnant of infiltrated blood. During these operations, 

 care must be taken not to injure or separate any of the ligaments. 

 Shreds of tendon may be cut off with a sharp knife or pair of scis- 

 sors. The ligaments may then, according to Eyton,* be converted 

 into a tough, leathery substance by immersion in a liquid prepared 

 by making a saturated solution of common alum and, when cold, 

 diluting it with an equal quantity of water, and adding half an 

 ounce of common salt for every half pound of alum. If the bones 

 are free from blood, twenty-four hours' immersion will be sufficient; 

 large birds or other animals may require nearly a week. When 

 removed from the solution, the bones must be washed under a cur- 

 rent of water, or in a basin, and then allowed to dry in any desira- 

 ble position. 



It is important, in preparing skeletons, not to allow the flesh to 

 dry too soon on the bones, or, at least, to allow them to soak in 

 water for a time before drying, as the subsequent operations will 

 be rendered much easier. 



Greasy skulls or bones can be readily cleaned by immersion in 

 ether for a length of time. The ether should be kept in a tight 

 jar, and every precaution taken to prevent undue proximity to a 

 light or the fire, the vapor being exceedingly explosive. A sim- 

 pler method consists in boiling them in a large quantity of water, 

 having a little potash added. 



§ Vm. PLANTS. 



The collector of plants requires but little apparatus ; a few quires 

 or reams of unsized paper, of folio size, will furnish all that will be 



* Ibis, I, 1859, 55. 



