314 After Big Game in Central Africa 



alcohol and sublimate solution upon them to remove smell, 

 and place them in the sun. 



As soon as they are dry you note down in a special 

 notebook the following particulars : number of skin, 

 bones and skull, species of animal, size and measurements, 

 place and date of capture, date of despatch, native name, 

 various observations, habits, etc. 



After the skin is completely dry you roll it carefully 

 with naphthaline, pepper, powdered tobacco, camphor, or 

 any other similar substance, and wrap it in sacking with 

 the thigh-bones and skull, which must be ticketed with the 

 same numbers as the skin. A label, reproducing all the 

 indications in the notebook, is attached to the package. 



When you only wish to preserve the animal's head and 

 neck, you cut the skin around the withers and shoulders, 

 proceeding to cure in the same way as you cure the whole 

 skin. Only, as the skin of the head is very thick and cannot 

 be rolled once it is dry, you must take care when drying it to 

 keep it in a convenient shape for packing on your return 

 journey. Heads of antelopes and other animals mounted 

 on oak shields make a pretty collection ; but it is ephemeral, 

 for worms get into it in two or three years, and the hair 

 comes off in places. The specimens begin to have a mangy 

 appearance, and, moreover, as often happens, if they are not 

 well stuffed (to give to each animal its true expression is 

 a veritable art), the general effect is pitiful and grotesque. 

 You can only preserve entire animals, or parts of animals, 

 for a great length of time, by putting them under glass cases, 

 as they do in museums. The most practical collections, and 

 those which last almost indefinitely, consist of animals' 

 skulls properly cleaned, or horns with the frontal bone only 

 attached to them, according to the space at your disposal. 

 If you wish to possess a fine collection of that kind you 

 must take care not to boil the bones after the manner 

 above recommended for specimens intended for mounting. 

 I learned to my cost that this was a mistake, because the 



