Appendix 315 



fat impregnates the bone, and it is difficult or impossible to 

 bleach it afterwards without spoiling it. This is the method 

 of proceeding with skulls which you intend to bleach and 

 preserve. If you are pressed for time and on the march, 

 simply remove the greater part of the flesh with a knife, 

 clean out the brain with a stick, leave it to dry in the shade 

 and in a cool place (the sun would melt the grease), and 

 pass over it a little sublimate, so as to keep off insects ; 

 not that they would injure the bone, but because they 

 would get into other delicate specimens which the traveller 

 might have with him. On the other hand, if you have 

 plenty of time, place the skull in running water until the 

 flesh has become soft enough to be removed with the hand 

 or a piece of stick, without using a knife, and until the 

 bone has become quite white, and leave it for a week 

 during the daytime in the sun and at night in the dew. 

 All that will be required to have perfectly white specimens 

 will be a simple cleaning upon your arrival in Europe. 



At least once a month you must examine your specimens, 

 opening them out and casting your eye over them, but 

 not shaking them. Upon detecting the least smell at 

 the feet or head you must use more preservatives. I have 

 often used turpentine and sublimate for the hairy side of 

 skins. Corrosive sublimate or bichloride of mercury being, 

 like arsenic, a violent poison, you must avoid, as far as 

 possible, placing your natural history specimens with 

 eatables. 



Finally, you must not in Africa keep your specimens 

 too long, especially during the rainy season ; you must send 

 them to Europe whenever you have the opportunity. 



BIRDS 



The preparation of birds is very delicate work which 

 you cannot entrust to natives. Tchigallo became an 

 excellent preparator, and I did not fear to entrust him with 



