684 



PEOCEEDIXGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



[1885. 



making a bundle for packing, bend the neck backwaxd, and fold the 

 legs and wings closely alongside of the body. 



SPECIAL POINTS. 



Cormorants have a small bone attached to 

 the back of the skull, and in Auks and many 

 similar birds there is a suiall bone at the elbow. 



Sometimes there is a little bone at the hinder 

 angle of the lower jaw, so that it is a good rule 

 not to trim up a bird's skull too closely. 



TURTLES. 



In order to rough out a turtle the under shell 

 or plastron must be removed. 



In sea turtles and a few others this can be 

 cut loose by taking a little time to the oijera- 

 tion, but in the more solidly-built tortoises and 

 most fresh-water turtles it is necessary to saw 

 through the plastron, following the line indicated 

 in the accompanying di- 

 agram. 



The interior of the 

 body being exposed, it 

 is a comparatively easy 

 matter to cut away the 

 flesh. 



Beware, however, of 

 cutting into any bones, 

 as they are frequently 

 soft in texture and 

 easily damaged. Usually this can be done 

 without disjointing any of the legs, and it is fig.io.— sbeiiotaTurtie(CArj/. 



, . ,, . ,, . , seniys marainata). A A, where 



better, especially m small specimens, to leave cuts sboui.rbenaiide to remove the 



^, , > T -1 , ' ■ , , lower .shell ov plastrou. 



them attached to the body. 



SNAKES. 



Snakes require very little care in their preparation after the skin has 

 been removed, but in the larger serpents, such as boas and pythons, 

 rudimentary hind legs are present and should be carefully preserved. 



Externally the legs appear as two little claws 

 situated on either side of the vent ; internally 

 they are slender bones, about an inch and a half 

 in length, loosely attached to the ribs. 



It is a comparatively easy matter to preserve 

 both the skin and skeleton of any good-sized 



Fig. 9.— Skeleton of a tiird 

 rea y for packing. 



Fig. ll.-Limbof aPython(P. 

 molurus), full size. 



snake by exercising a little patience. 



