6 NATURALISTS’ ASSISTANT. 
are to be treated in the same manner, and, having been 
wrapped with tow, are returned to their places. The skull is 
next pulled out through the neck and freed from fat and flesh 
and the brain removed through the opening behind. In 
some cases it may be necessary to enlarge this opening by 
breaking away the adjacent bone, but this course should be 
avoided as much as possible, as the skull, from a scientific 
standpoint, is of as much value as the skin, and should 
the latter by any means become destroyed (by no means an 
uncommon occurrence), the specimen will still retain a 
scientific value. It is well, when possible, to remove the 
skuli entirely from the skin and macerate it in water until 
the flesh is removed, and the brain so decomposed as to be 
readily shaken out of the opening. It is sometimes desirable 
to preserve the skull and the skin separately, and at such times 
a rough model of the skull may be made of plaster of Paris, 
and placed in the skin, while such disposition is made of the 
skul! as may be desired. Should the skull be returned to the 
head, the place of all flesh removed should be filled by 
tow. A wire wrapped with tow may be inserted in the tail, 
while the body is distended to something like its original 
shape by the same material. 
BIRDS. 
A paper ring 1s made fitting tightly around the body ; this 
is preserved as a measure of the proper size and is us2d 
farther on. ‘This ring is then removed, the bird laid on its 
back, with the head pointing obliquely from the operator to- 
