PEEPARIKG ANIMAL SKIKS FOR MOUNTING. 59 



CHAPTER VIII. 



PREPARING ANIMAL SKINS FOR MOUNTING. 



Animals in warm weather require immediate attention, 

 especially in localities east of the Mississippi Valley. 

 Pelts that would dry in fine condition as they were taken 

 from the carcasses on the great plains of the West, would 

 spoil in a day's time, at the same season and in the same 

 latitude in the Eastern United States. 



The most perishable pelts are those of rodents and cer- 

 tain parts of the skins of ruminants ; vegetable matter in 

 the viscera ferments, causing decomposition in a few hours. 

 Carnivorous animals remain in good condition the long- 

 est, though all pelts keep best if they are removed from 

 animals when warm. 



After a large animal is killed, measure and make notes 

 of dimensions. If the contents of the thorax are removed 

 at once, the body will cool and stiffen in good condition 

 within a few hours. Blood should be scraped from the 

 hair with the hunter's knife, and any remaining, washed 

 off. Water should not come in contact with the flesh, 

 however, more than is necessary, as it hastens decomposi- 

 tion. Large animals should be skinned where they fall, 

 if time will permit ; as in packing on the back of a horse 

 or mule, they are subject to many hard knocks while 

 crossing rocks and fallen timber, and the chafing of 

 tightly drawn lariats is by no means conducive to their 

 preservation. 



When the hunter unexpectedly kills game, and per- 

 chance, finds himself standing over a dead elk, ten miles 

 from camp, with only his " scalper," and the sun an hour 

 high, it is best to proceed as follows : If the horns are 

 embedded in the earth, raise them carefully v^ ith a lever, 

 and turn the animal on its back, propping him with short 

 sticks. Fasten the ends of two lariats with a double 



