636 MANUAL OF NATUKAL HISTORY. 



to the end of the tail, and likewise down the inside 

 of each leg. In the case of horned quadrupeds, such 

 as deer, antelopes, &c., the incision along the belly 

 must be continued to the chin, in order to skin the 

 head and remove the muscle from the skull. Ani- 

 mals possessing peculiar tails, such as the beaver, 

 will require to have a longitudinal cut made beneath 

 to effect the skinning process. The ears of large 

 quadrupeds, or of any animals which may have 

 those organs much developed, should be skinned, 

 and card-board substituted for the cartilage removed ; 

 this is a difficult operation, but it ought to be done 

 if for no other reason than to retain their natural 

 form and appearance. 



It may frequently happen that means are wanting 

 to preserve more than a part of an animal, par- 

 ticularly of large ones ; in such cases the skulls, and 

 if horned, the skulls and horns entire, accompanied 

 with a full account of the entire dimensions, the 

 probable age, colour of the hair, &c., will be found 

 very useful. The horns of rhinoceri should accom- 

 pany the skulls. The skulls of cetaceous animals 

 should be secured, and if possible the entire skeleton. 

 Directions for preparing skulls and bones for trans- 

 port will be given under a separate heading. 



It will be requisite to scrape the skins of some 

 animals, as for instance, the seals, after their removal 

 from the carcase, and before applying the pre- 

 servative, in order to remove the fat. 



For preserving the skins of large animals, a nearly 

 saturated solution of alum, washed repeatedly over 



