47 APPENDIX III 



Nests " or Davie's " Methods in the Art of Taxidermy, " 

 pp. 74-78- 



* Mammals. Any mammal intended for a scientific 

 specimen should be measured in the flesh, before skinning, 

 and as soon after death as practicable, when the muscles 

 are still flexible. (This is particularly true of larger 

 species, such as foxes, wildcats, etc.) The measure- 

 ments are taken in millimetres, a rule or steel tape being 

 used, (i) Total length: stretch the animal on its back 

 along the rule or tape and measure from the tip of the 

 nose (head extended as far as possible) to the tip of the 

 fleshy part of tail (not to end of hairs). (2) Tail: bend 

 tail at right angles from body backward and place end of 

 ruler in the angle, holding the tail taut against the ruler. 

 Measure only to tip of flesh (make this measurement with 

 a pair of dividers). (3) Hind foot: place sole of foot flat 

 on ruler and measure from heel to tip of longest toe-nail 

 (in certain small mammals it is necessary to use dividers 

 for accuracy). The measurements should be entered on 

 the label, along with such necessary data as sex, locality, 

 date, and collector's name. 



Skin a mammal as soon after death as possible. Lay 

 mammal on back and with scissors or scalpel open the 

 skin along belly from about midway between fore and hind 

 legs to vent, taking care not to cut muscles of abdomen. 

 Skin down on either side of the body by working the skin 

 from flesh with fingers till hind legs appear. Use corn- 

 meal to stanch blood or moisture. With left hand grasp 

 a leg and work the knee from without into the opening 

 just made; cut the bone at the knee, skin leg to heel and 

 clean meat off the bone (leaving it attached of course to 

 foot). In animals larger than squirrels skin down to tips 



* The following directions for making skins of mammals were written 

 for this book by Mr. W. K. Fisher of Stanford University, an experienced 

 collector. 



