EQUIPMENT, ARMS, AND SPECIMENS 751 



dried skins powdered arsenic is of valuable assistance as an 

 insecticide. It may be applied to the dermal side of the 

 skin while it is still green, or the skin after being thoroughly- 

 dried may be dipped into a solution of it and redried. This 

 last process renders the whole hair surface, as well as the 

 dermal layer, insect proof. 



The use of alum in any form is to be avoided except as a 

 last resort in decaying skins. The astringent action which 

 it exerts upon the skin has a killing or hardening effect on 

 the tissues which remains in them permanently. Such ac- 

 tion affects seriously their elasticity, and makes it difficult 

 for the taxidermist to restore them to their natural shape. 

 Alum is of use occasionally in decaying skins, for its astrin- 

 gent action is powerful enough to set the hair which decay 

 has already caused to slip. 



As the game trophies of sportsmen consist almost in- 

 variably of only the head skin and horns, the skinning of the 

 head is of first importance. Care should be taken to make 

 all cuts from the under side of the skin so as to avoid cutting 

 the hair bordering the incisions, particularly about the base 

 of the horns where the hair is unusually long. The neck 

 should be cut off at the shoulders, so that it may have 

 enough length to give it a graceful appearance when 

 mounted. Make the cut as far back as the withers and the 

 base of the forelegs. From a point a few inches behind the 

 horns make a longitudinal cut, following the midline of 

 the nape to the withers; then connect the neck cut with 

 both horn bases by a short cut to the back of the horn bases 

 and continue the cut completely around each horn. Begin 

 skinning at the base of the neck by pulling the skin forward, 

 being careful to leave all the fat and skin muscle attached 



