486 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL, MUSEUM. 
that are known, or even supposed, to be rare, preserve the first specimen 
obtained, be it young or old, good, bad, or indifferent, for fear another . 
of the same species is not obtained. 
NOTES AND MEASUREMENTS. 
The value of a specimen is greatly enhanced by a record of the fol- 
lowing: 1. Length of head and body; 2. Length of tail; 3. Height at 
shoulders (if the animal be a large one) and girth; 4. Color of eyes; 
and 5. Color of other soft parts of the head, feet, and body which are in 
any way worthy of notice. Sketches and photographs of animals in 
the flesh, either dead or alive, are always highly prized by zoélogists 
and taxidermists, to whom they are of the utmost importance and 
value. 
KNIVES AND MATERIALS. 
For small quadrupeds a good sharp pocket-knife is enough for any one 
who does not make a business of collecting, and for large animals small 
butcher or hunting knives are amply sufficient. Alcohol in copper cans 
with large screw tops are supplied by the Institution by special arrange- 
ment, but salt and alum with which to make a better solution, can be 
procured anywhere within the pale of civilization, and also kegs or bar- 
rels to put it in. Any one who really wishes to preserve the skin of an 
animal need never be thwarted by an apparent lack of implements and 
preservatives. © 
SKINNING SMALL QUADRUPEDS (VARYING IN SIZE FROM A MOUSE TO 
A MASTIFF). 
Lay the animal flat upon its back, and, beginning at the throat, 
make a straight, clean cut in the skin along the middle of the neck, 
breast, and abdomen, quite to the base of the tail. Except in very 
small animals the tail also must be slit open along the under side from 
about one inch above the root quite to the tip. 
The bottom of the foot must be slit open lengthwise, from the base of 
the middle toe to the heel. All the opening cuts in the skin are now 
made. 
Begin at the middle of the abdomen, and cut the skin neatly from the 
body, leaving no flesh, or at least but very little, adhering to it. Wecome 
very soon to where the fore leg joins the body at the shoulder, and the 
hind leg at the hip. Cut through the muscles at those points, disjoint 
the legs, and detach them entirely from the body. 
Skin each leg by turning the skin wrong side out over the foot, quite 
down to the toes. When this has been done, cut the flesh away from 
the bones of the leg and foot, but be careful to leave the bones attached 
to each other by their natural ligaments, and to the skin itself at the 
toes. Never throw away the leg bones of an animal if the skin is to be 
