94 THE AMERKWX MrsECM JOriLX.lL 



To pr('scr\(' li<'a\y skins siicccsst'wUx , like those of the rliiiio, liij)j)o ;ui(l 

 elephant, which may ])v. one and one-liaU' inches thick at certain points, it 

 is imperative tiiat thi^y l)e salted immediately upon removal, and after that 

 they should at once l)c cut or sha\cd down on lh(; flesh side to ahout half an 

 inch in thickness. Then fine salt, generously applied, will penetrate through 

 the tissues to the epidermis or base of the outer skin, j)reser\ing it and hold- 

 ing the hair tightly in j)lace. As this outer skin is a natural waterj)roof 

 covering to the iminud, it does not absorb readily and all treatment 

 must be applied to the flesh side. Powdered alum nuiy be used locally, 

 but only when absolutely necessary, as it hardens the tissues to such an ex- 

 tent that no "life" or elasticity returns when the skin is finall.x prepai'cd for 

 mounting. 



Climate plays an inij)oitant part in the successful ])rej)aratioii of skins 

 and for this reason the dry, tropical atmospheric conditions of Africa are 

 ideal. Tlie power of the sun is tempered by a morning and CNcning breeze, 

 not only grateful to human l)eings, but also very useful in rai)id drying. For 

 example, a zebra skin if hung up in the early morning will l)e dry by nightfall. 

 During the rainy season — from about the middle of March to the middle of 

 June and again in the month of November — drying is more (hflicult, 

 owing, of course, to the amount of moisture in the air. But nearly every 

 day during this season there is a brief period of warm sunshine so that a 

 salted skin may even then be properly dried. 



The preservation of the skeleton, particularly the bones of the legs, 

 shoulderblades and pelvis, in addition to the skull, is of the greatest impor- 

 tance as they are necessary later in the proper mounting of a specimen, 

 since the taxidermist must set them up in their proper position and model 

 with clay the correct anatomy of the muscles about them. 



The method of transporting the accumulated specimens in the field in 

 Africa is of necessity a primitive and often a difficult one. The entire out- 

 fit is made u{) into sixty-pound loads and carried on the heads of the natives, 

 unless some load i)rove too heavy for one in which case it is carried, litter- 

 wise, on a pole between two bearers. When the amount of material to 

 be transported becomes very large a base camp is established, and the 

 specimens stored there in the care of two or more porters, until such time 

 as the trophies can be sent to a railroad station and shipj^ed as direct as may 

 be to the Museum. 



