PREPARING SKINS OF MAMMALS. 11 



a manner that large creases should not be formed. Smaller skins 

 should always be folded and dried Avithout creasing. Some pre- 

 servative, such as alum, or one of the special preparations sold for 

 the purpose by dealers, should now be well rubbed in, especially on 

 the ears, mouth, feet, etc., and the whole specimen sprinkled with the 

 same. The hairy side of the skin has next to be well anointed with 

 turpentine, and the specimen will be ready for packing. When 

 skins are shot during the rainy season, they are very difficult to get 

 dried, and it is then recommended that, if possible, they should be 

 pickled in brine. 



In addition to the skin, it is essential that the skull, and, if 

 possible, the bones of the limbs, should be preserved as complete as 

 possible. The flesh should be carefully cut away, the brain taken 

 out through the natural hole at the back, and the bones soaked for 

 a few hours in water, after which they may be dried in the sun. 

 In hot, dry climates the teeth should be coated with wax in order 

 to prevent their splitting. A wash of turpentine over the skulls 

 and other bones will prevent the ravages of insects. 



The following list contains the names of many of the larger Wild 

 Mammals of which specimens are wanted by the Museum. In 

 addition to these, skins and skeletons or skulls of well-established 

 breeds of Domesticated Mammals from all parts of the world are 

 required. 



Skins of a considerable number of species of the larger Mammals 

 are required for mounting in the exhibition galleries, either to 

 replace indifferent specimens now exhibited, or as representatives of 

 forms at present not shown at all. Such are indicated by a cross (t) 

 in the list. 



In addition to this (and more especially in view of the approaching 

 partial, if not complete, extermination of many species), it is of the 

 highest importance that the Museum should acquire a series of skins 

 of all the larger species of Mammals as a study-collection, and also 

 a duplicate set for future mounting, thus making three sets in all. 

 Skins of all species, whether rare or common, will therefore be 

 acceptable, and no specimens if properly labelled, can fail to be of 

 present or future use. Some of those more urgently needed for the 

 store and study series are introduced into the list below, being 



