MANNER OU 1 COLLECTING ANIMALS- 1(]1 



These are animals which, it m&y-b'i pf.esijrn^d. are.^tijl littU- 

 known in consequence of their nocturnal habits. 



Those who prepare for the chase, with the intention of pre- 

 serving animals, should take care to provide themselves with 

 implements necessary for fulfilling the objects advantageously. 

 The articles most needful are one or two pairs of large pin- 

 cers, scissors, forceps, scalpels, knives, needles, thread, and 

 a small hatchet, as well as one or more cannisters of preserv- 

 ing powder, some pots of arsenical soap, or arsenical composi- 

 tion, arid some bottles of spirit of turpentine. If in America, 

 cotton may be employed in stuffing the skins, and therefore a 

 considerable quantity should always be taken along with the 

 naturalist. In parts of Asia and Africa where this cannot be 

 procured, tow must be employed, or old ropes teazed down ; 

 and where even these cannot be found, dried grass and moss 

 may be used. M. Le Vaiilant used a species of dog-grass 

 while in Africa, which is very abundant in that country ; arid 

 it answered the purpose remarkably well. 



It being supposed that a traveller has an ample caravan, 

 provided with all the necessaries which we have pointed 

 out, and having killed a quadruped, he will skin it immedi- 

 ately, according to the method which we have pointed out at 

 page 6th. He will then sew up the skin after receiving a 

 partial stuffing, and having been anointed with the arsenical 

 soap, or composition. All the extremities must then be im- 

 bued with spirit of turpentine, and the skin should be placed 

 in some convenient place to dry, so that it may have the 

 advantage of complete exposure to the air. The turpentine 

 must be again applied at the end of three or four days, more 

 especially around the mouth of the quadruped. 



It will be of the utmost advantage to remain a week or ten 

 days at one place ; by which means the naturalist will have 

 had time to render himself somewhat acquainted with the ani- 

 mals which localize in that neighbourhood. And as some 

 species frequently confine themselves to a very limited spot, 

 by leaving the place too hurriedly he is apt to overlook them. 



After the traveller has determined on leaving his canton- 



ment, he must see that all the objects he has collected are in 



a condition to be removed. He must examine carefully each 



specimen, and see that they have not been attacked by the 



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