No. 1a. 
Mammals, Part II. 
SKELETONS, with Special Notes on the 
Collection of Specimens of CETACEA. 
ara Jeric 
By S. F. HARMER, Sc.D., F.R.S., 
Keeper of the Department of Zoology.* 
I.—Mammals other than Cetacea. 
1. PrReuIMiInary Hunts. 
THE preparation of skeletons in the field should go no further than 
the removal of sufficient flesh to ensure freedom from putrefaction. 
Hvery care should be taken to leave the bones naturally attached 
to each other, and with this object in view it will be sufficient, after 
removing the internal organs—heart, lungs, liver, intestines and 
Se) on—to cut the flesh roughly from the body and legs, and to 
expose the carcass thus cleaned to the sun. In small animals the 
limbs should not be separated from the rest of the skeleton. In 
those of larger size, the fore legs should be removed with the blade- 
bone, and the hind legs should be detached at the hip-joint. If 
not too large, the limbs should then be tied firmly to the rest of 
the skeleton. This is most important, especially where several 
skeletons are packed in the same case. To save space and to 
facilitate packing, each limb should be folded on itself. In very 
large skeletons, it may be necessary to separate the fore leg from 
the shoulder- blade, and even to subdivide the limbs; care being 
taken to cut the principal joints without injuring the bones. The 
tail should be turned forwards so as to le inside the body. On 
no account should any preservative be used. 
If the skin of the animal is being prepared as well as the 
skeleton, the bones of the feet should be left in the skin, unless 
the specimen is of large size. If the entire skin is not being 
* In drawing up these Instructions I have received much valuable assist- 
ance from my colleagues Mr. O. Thomas, F'.R.S., and Mr. W. P. Pycraft. 
