PREPARING AND MOUNTING SKELETONS. 



87 



To clean a large skeleton, carefully un joint the first 

 cervical vertebra from the occipital bone. Remove the 

 brains without disfiguring the occipital orifice, and clean 

 off all flesh, without 

 injuring the two 

 small bones at the 

 root of the tongue, 

 and the gristle about 

 the passages of the 

 nose. Sever the 

 shoulders from the 

 trunk, by drawing 

 the knife between 

 the scapulars and 

 thorax. Unjoint the 

 hams from the hip- 

 bone. Clean the legs 

 by splitting the flesh 

 to the bone on one 

 side, and remove it 

 in as large pieces as 

 possible, inasmuch 

 as it will leave the 

 bone easier than 

 when removed in 



flakes. Un- 



the cervical 



SKELETON OF THE HADROSAURUS. 



small 

 joint 



vertebrae from the 

 thorax, and clean both by constant trimming with a knife. 

 Great care should be exercised in cleaning the chest, so 

 that the small gristly elastic ends of the ribs are not cut. 

 Skeletons can be most substantially prepared with- 

 out boiling, or the use of lime, though more labor may be 

 required. When preparing a fresh skeleton, vigorously 

 rub the bones with sawdust. It will remove small parti- 

 cles of flesh, and is a good dryer. It is necessary to sep- 



