126 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 
found, and to take them in traps and snares. They are also. 
more likely to be able to find their retreats, so that they 
may take -these animals in a young state, and also birds in 
| their nests. 
By thus securing animals while young, they are much more 
likely to reach Europe in a living state. Every exertion 
| should be used to render them familiar, when, being ha- 
bituated to the appearance of man, they will be more able to 
| resist the effects of a tedious sea voyage than those which 
have been taken when wild, and are under a continued 
degree of excitement. Every care should be taken to | 
_ soothe and caress them; and there is no animal whose man- 
| ners cannot be softened by gentle treatment. During fine 
weather, they should be allowed to take exercise on the deck, 
. as nothing is so injurious to their health and growth, as being 
| long pent up in a small cage. While thus confined, it will be 
obvious that they require a much smaller portion of food than 
when they can have sufficient room to exercise themselves. 
Many of these animals are lost from over feeding. Their diet 
should be given with great regularity, but always in such quan- 
tity as they can easily digest. 
Next to food, cleanliness is of the utmost importance, and 
if this requires too much of the attention of those who are 
bringing them home, it will be easy to procure the assistance 
of some of the crew. And unless this is strictly attended to, 
_ there is little chance of preserving their health. 
| 
| 
When animals’ skins are imported, it is also necessary to 
bring the head and feet. Those of the mammalia, which 
can be put into a barrel or bottle, should be preserved en. 
tire in spirits. 
In the event of not being able to transport the carcase, the 
next best thing is to bring the skeleton along with the skin. 
Tt will not be necessary to mount these. All that is required 
is to boil the bones, take off the flesh, and dry them. After- 
wards, all the bones belonging to the same skeleton should be 
put in a bag by themselves, taking care to fill up the bag with 
dried moss, or any other substance which will prevent friction. 
The more effectually to secure this, the small and tender 
bones ought to be wrapped in paper. It is of the utmost 
consequence that not a bone should be lost. 
