DIRECTIOKS AS TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE 

 SKINS AND OTHER TROPHIES OF ANIMALS ON 

 THE FIELD. 



Conb-iluted hy Edwin Ward, F.Z.S. 



General. — It must always be borne in mind that the value of any 

 object secured and preserved depends on the completeness with which 

 all its natural features are saved, as well as the condition in which 

 they are kept. This is true in degree, for whatever purpose the 

 object is designed ; but it is an absolute essential in regard to 

 specimens for the illustration of natural history. 



Large Game. — Those met with in the Central India district will 

 most generally be, the Felidoe, most important of which is the Tiger ; 

 many smaller Garnivora ; of horned beasts, the gigantic gour — 

 Bos Sylhetanus — commonly called the Indian bison ; buffalo, 

 sambar, cheetal, and other deer. There is also the elephant, largest 

 of all, and other pachyderms. 



When the great game is secured, first turn the animal on its 

 back, and stretching apart the fore and hind legs, proceed to remove 

 the skin. In all cases where the skin is wanted entire, this is best 

 done by making incision from one corner of the mouth through the 

 medial line of belly to the extremity of tail. Next make lateral 

 incisions in order to strip the limbs ; for the fore-legs, from the edge 

 of central incision through the armpit along the inner side of the 

 limb, the line of incision inclining slightly to the outer portion, in 

 order that the seam may be less perceptible when the perfect specimen 

 is mounted. A like process through the groin is necessary for the 

 hind-legs. The incisions thus made leave the skin in form of 

 tongue pieces over the breast. First apply the knife to these points 

 and detach the skin round to the spine. In doing this it is necessary 

 to clear the limbs, and great care must be taken to leave intact the 

 natural features of the foot. The last metacarpal and metatarsal 

 bones must be left in the skin, whether in the case of Felldce or 

 Cervidce. Now turn over the carcase and draw back the whole skin 

 over the head, exercising particular care in separating the ears and 

 the eyes from the skull. Similar care must be taken as to the lips. 

 For if the rim of the eyelids be severed by the scalpel the injury 

 spreads in a remarkable manner, often so badly as to render the 

 damage seriously conspicuous. As to the ears, they should be 

 separated from the skull close to the bone, or the lower structure will 

 present too large an aperture. The lips must be cut off close to the 



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