PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 489 
PRESERVATION OF SKINS. 
1. In a temperate climate. The old and familiar method is to rub the 
skins inside with powdered alum or dry arsenic,.or alum and saltpeter. 
wrap tow around the leg bones (of small mammals), and dry the skins, 
Let me here call the attention of all collectors to the following fact: 
A mammal skin which has never been dried and hardened can be mounted 
in one-third less time and with far greater accuracy than the best dry skin 
of the same kind. 
This being the case, it is certainly worth while to preserve skins in a 
soft state. A skin may be removed very unskillfully, but if kept soft 
until it reaches the taxidermist, it can be mounted with gratifying suc- 
cess. On the other hand, the dry skins of the most experienced col- 
lector can be mounted well only with great difficulty. 
The following methods are recommended: 
Under ordinary circumstances, in a temperate climate a skin may be 
preserved in a soft state by rubbing salt very thoroughly on the in- 
side, and then leaving the skin turned wrong side out, packing it in 
salt, and shipping it in that condition as soon as possible. <A better 
method, or rather the best of all methods for any climate, and all kinds of 
skins, is to prepare a solution of salt and alum in water in the following 
proportions: For every gallon of water put in one pint of alum (three- 
fourths of a pound) and one quart of salt (one pound and three-fourths), 
stir it up, and heat it to the boiling point. Pour it into a wooden or 
earthen vessel, and when cool, or milk warm, it is ready for use. Plunge 
a Skin into this bath and move it about until the’ solution reaches 
- every part. Give a fresh skin plenty of room for the first day or two, 
and if it be a large one move it about every day for three days so that 
the solution can act with full force on every part. 
Fresh skins of all kinds may be placed in this bath (leg bones and 
skull of small skins may also be left attached) and allowed to remain in 
it for months without deteriorating in any way; even after five years 
they are still as soft and pliable as when first taken off. Small skins 
may be shipped in glass jars, or wooden kegs, and large ones in barrels. 
If you have alcohol sufficiently strong (30° above proof), skins may be 
immersed in it as fast as collected, instead of in the salt and alum solu- 
tion. The objections to alcohol are that it loses strength very rapidly 
when receiving daily accessions of fresh skins, bleaches hair, and must 
be renewed from time to time until the collection is finally packed in 
fresh alcohol and shipped. 
2. In an arctic climate. As before stated, the salt and alum solution 
is the best preservative for skins in all climates, and for all objects from 
the largest elephant, seal, walrus, or polar bear, down to the smallest 
bat of the tropics. If it is impossible or impracticable to employ it, the 
skins of all large arctic mammals may be successfully preserved by im- 
mersing them in very strong brine, but it should be renewed at least 
