756 AFRICAN GAME ANIMALS 



care should be used in guarding them against breakage, 

 especially such parts as the teeth and the delicate bony 

 processes which are extremely important structures in their 

 classification. A strong tendency is manifest among sports- 

 men to remove as much meat as possible from the skull in 

 the field so as to minimize the odoriferous effects which 

 emanate from such dried specimens. The cutting of muscle, 

 however, from skulls by the rough methods usually employed 

 by native assistants often results in cutting off the delicate 

 processes or in scarring the bones by knife cuts. As much of 

 the meat as can be dried thoroughly on the skull serves as a 

 protection to the bones, and is in no way a menace to its 

 preservation. An ideal way of getting rid of the smell and 

 the insect larvae which feed upon dried meat and bones is to 

 soak the bones several hours in a solution of arsenic water 

 after they have become thoroughly dry, and then redry them 

 for a few hours in the sun. The arsenic not only kills the 

 insects which are on them at the time, but it prevents further 

 insect attack. The skulls of the smaller species should be 

 carefully carried in boxes in the field to prevent their being 

 knocked about and broken. 



