.f13] COLLECTING SPECIMENS OF CETACEANS. 
warm weather, but if it cannot be gotten, sea-weed may be substituted. 
As sea-weed is not thrown up plentifully on all parts of the coast, saw- 
dust or even salt may be used. Sawdust should be wet. 
Removing the entrails.—If specimens are packed in salt, sea-weed, 
or sawdust it is necessary in warm weather to remove the entrails and 
fill the cavity with salt. In making an opening for this purpose care 
should be taken not to allow the slit to extend too far toward the head, 
and tbus to endanger the breast-bone. 
SELECTIONS OF SPECIMENS FROM A SCHOOL. 
In case of the stranding of a large school at a point from which it is 
possible to send specimens to Washington at small expense, a full- 
grown male and female and a young specimeu should be selected. 
(The female may be known by the presence of a short slit on each 
side of the vent, in which the teats or mamme are concealed.) 
Measurements.—A few measurements of a considerable number of 
specimens would also be desirable. 
PREPARATION OF A SKELETON. 
In some cases the distance from Washington or other obstacles will 
prevent the sending of fresh specimens. Under such circumstances 
the skin and flesh should be roughly removed from the skeleton and 
the latter packed in dry sea-weed or sawdust. The more oily a speci- 
men is and the longer it will be on the road the more carefully it 
should be cleaned. This is for the reason that the heat of the oil de- 
stroys the bones as if in a slow fire. 
The hind limbs.—Special search should be made for the rudimentary 
bones of the hind limbs which lie in the flesh half-way between the > 
Fic. 2.—Pelvic bone of a porpoise—natural size. 
backbone and the vent. The neglect to preserve these bones renders 
many specimens in museums imperfect. In a porpoise 6 or 8 feet long 
their length would not exceed 3 or 4 inches. See also page 14. 
