BULLET AND SHOT 



hang it up on a line or a branch to dry. The 

 drying should, if possible, be effected in the shade. 



If the specimen be not destined for mounting 

 whole, the skin may be pegged out on the ground 

 to dry, but the common mistake of unduly stretching 

 it out of shape, in order to make it appear larger 

 than it really is, should in every case be avoided. 



As soon as the skin is thoroughly dry, it may be 

 folded with the fur or hair inside, and so packed. 

 Skins are best packed for sending home in a 

 wooden box lined with tin, whose cover (of the 

 same material) should be soldered on to the lining, 

 thus rendering the case perfectly air-tight. 



When it is intended that the animal shall be 

 mounted whole, the leg -bones must be preserved. 

 These should be separated from the trunk at the 

 shoulder -joints and the thighs, and thoroughly 

 cleansed from all adherent flesh, etc. 



In every instance the skull should be preserved. 

 To effect this, place it in boiling water for five 

 minutes only in the case of small specimens, and 

 ten minutes or more in that of larger ones, after 

 which clean thoroughly, scooping out all the brains. 

 Care must be taken not to lose any of the teeth. 



In packing skulls, each should be separately tied 

 up in paper, and marked with a number correspond- 

 ing to that by which the skin belonging to it is 

 indicated, and packed tightly moreover to avoid 

 breakage of teeth, etc., through rolling about a 

 frequent source of disappointment. 



Another excellent method for the preservation 

 of skins of the mammalia, where it is practicable, 



472 



