62 METHODS IN THE ART OF TAX/DEjkMY. 



preserved in the salt and alum solution and they may afterward be 

 put into the forms of skins or mounted. If this is not practicable, the 

 skins should be treated with arsenical paste or soap and rubbed with 

 equal parts of powdered alum and salt and allowed to dry in the 

 shade. 



Large Mammals. — In the case of such mammals as the elephant, 

 rhinoceros and hippopotamus, when of large size, the skin must be 

 cut into three or four sections in order to facilitate handling. They 

 should be treated with a coating of arsenical paste or soap and by 

 rubbing on equal parts of powdered alum and salt and dried in the 

 shade. The leg-bones should be detached, poisoned, and tied together 

 with the skull, and all carefully labeled. 



Deer, moose, elk, horse, etc., should have the skins taken off 

 entire, and the leg-bones allowed to remain attached to the hoofs. 

 They should be treated like the larger skins just mentioned because 

 it is not altogether practicable to place many skins of this size in solu- 

 tion while in the field. Fold the skin together as seen in Plate 

 XLVIII, Fig. 2. 



The time is not far distant, however, when taxidermists the world 

 over will demand that all skins shipped them from distant localities 

 for the purpose of mounting shall be sent in a wei stale. The salt 

 and alum pickle then should have the careful study of every field 

 collector, and the salinometer should be one of his most valued 

 instruments. 



Birds. — Upon shooting a bird, the first thing to do is to plug its 

 mouth, nose-holes, vent, and the shot-holes with cotton, in order to 

 keep back the blood and juices which are liable to ooze out and soil 

 the plumage. With all the care you may exercise in shooting your speci- 

 mens blood will frequently soil the plumage, and sometimes badly, 

 too. Mr. L. S. Foster says: '* Equal parts by measure of fine white 

 sand and fullers-earth makes a good absorbent for blood. Carry this 

 mixture in a small salt holder, one of the pepper pot style, and use 

 it freely in the field on blood-besprinkled plumages." In your note 

 book record at once the colors of any of the fleshy parts liable to fade 

 by the drying. The bird, if a small one, can now be thrust head 

 foremost into a paper cone and carried in the game bag or collecting 

 box. Chapter V will instruct you how to make what is technically 

 called a "bird skin.'' 



The best way to transport bird skins is in wooden or tin boxes. 

 They should be carefully laid in layers and each one properly labeled. 

 Do not shoot more birds than you can practically make good skins of 



