INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING MAMMAL SKINS. 245 



it does not seein possible to relax a specimen so treated. Provided, 

 liowever, that tlie siciii can be kept moist witli the preservative fluid, 

 wjiich is sufficient after a few days immersion, there is nothing better 

 than formalin on account of its portability before use and reliability in 

 action. 



The next most satisfactory preservative is perhaps salt and alum 

 combined. The first alone is doubtfully effective in Iveeping' the hair 

 fast for any length of time, and the latter by itself will not penetrati' 

 thick skins with sufTicient rapidity. 



At first salt should be plentifully applied to both sides of the skin, 

 and well rubbed in occasionally on the fleshy side with pieces of wood or 

 stone : in the intervals the skin sliouhl be folded up, hair side outwards, 

 and allowed to pickle. When twelve to twenty-four hours have elapsed, 

 it should be treated to rubbings of powdered alum and finally allowed to 

 dry. Thickened areas of .skin should be cross-hatched or shaved down 

 as much as possible at an early stage of tlie jn'oceedings. 



Roroii Pi!Ksisri\".\Ti().N of Ski.xs. 



If it is desired to preserve an interesting specimen when no ap- 

 paratus and preservatives are at hand, take its measurements with 

 twigs, or piece of string or a liana, and skin as directed above. Take 

 S|)ecial pains to free the skin from all flesh and fat and to t'lean and 

 o))en up the feet and ears as much as possible. Then treat it liberally 

 with wood-aslies well rubbed in. 



Ill small mammals, or those with short tails, a skewer of bam- 

 1)00, pieee of I'attan or the rib of a palm pinna can ))e used to extend 

 the tail : but long tails like those of cats, civets, or monkeys should be 

 simply laid along the under side of the body, after making a small slit 

 beneatli tlie tip, to ventilate the inside and aid drying. Wind some 

 ciMimpled paper or dried grass round the limb bone and fill out the skin 

 with dry leaves, etc. Shape as well as possible and dry (juickly. 



Large skins should be opened out flat and treated with several 

 applications of wood ashes while drying : hasten tlie latter process as 

 much as possible. 



Witii fair opportunities for drying there will be good pi'osjiects 

 of skins so treated making satisfactory specimens. 



Alcohol .and Foint.VLix. 



It it is not convenient to skin small mammals they can be 

 preserved in sjairit or funualiii. 



Ad<l to alcoliol (methylated spii'il is iniite satisfactory) one fifth 

 to one sixth of its volume of water, and mix one jiart of formalin with 

 twenty to twenty-four parts of watei'. 



Label the specimens in pencil on stiff paper or visiting-card and 

 gut them thoroughly ; afterwards soaking them in water for a few hours 

 to extract as much blood as possible. At first keep them immersed in 



Vlil.. II, .M.\Y ^'■<\'. 



