METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 6 1 



1 dis.stcliiig pomt. 

 1 pair of forceps. 

 1 liooks and chain. 

 1 blow-pipe and drill. 



If you intend to collect nests and eggs you may consult Chapter 



VIII. 



Care and Treatment of Specimens in the Field. — In shooting a 



specimen one of the points to keep in view is to injure it as little as 



possible. If the preservation of the skin is your object the specimen 



demands your care and attention the moment it falls into your hands. 



Therefore, study well the amount of ammunition you should use in 



your guns. 



The damage to your specimens will depend largely upon the size 

 and quantity of shot, the weight of ball, and the drams of powder 

 used. Shoot to kill, but not to mangle. A well-shot specimen is as 

 good as " a stitch in time," for it will frequently save you untold extra 

 labor in the way of mending broken bones, patching skins, cleaning 

 and substituting hair, feathers, etc. We shall first consider the care 

 and treatment of 



Small Mammals. — Skin a small quadruped precisely as I have 

 directed in Chapter IX, and if you desire to make it into the form of a 

 skin the same Chapter will instruct you as to the best shape for trans- 

 portation from the field (see Plate XLVIII, Fig. 1). 



If you expect at any time to mount the skin of a mammal by all 

 means preserve it in a wet state in the salt and alum solution described 

 on pages 40 and 44. Take into the field with you a lead tank similar 

 to that devised by Prof. Wiley.' 



Take along with you some No. 19 copper wire, and small lead 

 and pure tin labels about Ix v^ inch in size, with a hole punched in one 

 end. Have stamped or embossed on these labels, by pairs, num- 

 bers, so that one can be attached to the skin just before placing it into 

 the salt and alum bath. The other label with the corresponding num- 

 ber may be attached to the skull. 



Before placing the skin in the salt and alum solution be sure 

 to wash all blood from the hair, and for the first day or two change 

 its position so that the solution will act freely on all parts. While 

 collecting in the field all skins of the smaller mammals should be 



1. Lead Field-Tank. — This tank can be made cheaply and of any desired size — from two to twelve 

 gallons. It is made of sheet lead and is either round or square in shape, with a large, round opening in the top, 

 the lid being constructed with threads to screw on. I have seen them made with a square opening and the lid 

 arranged to be soldered on when the tank is filled with skins, or previous to shipment. It is fitted in a pine box 

 with iron handles, the lid on hinges which is fastened by means of hasp and padlock. Ordinarily, a four or six 

 gallon tank is sufficiently large, but for an extensive collecting trip into remote regions a twelve-gallon tank is the 

 best size, or two of the smaller ones. Any metal-worker c.t.i make these tanks. 



