[13] COLLECTING SPECIMENS OF CETACEANS. 1169 



warm weather, but if it cannot be gotten, sea-weed may be substituted. 

 As sea- weed is not thrown up plentifully on all parts of the coast, saw- 

 dust or even salt may be used. Sawdust should be wet. 



Removing the entrails. — If specimens are packed in salt, sea-weed, 

 or sawdust it is necessary in warm weather to remove the entrails and 

 fill the cavity with salt. In making an opening for this purpose care 

 should be taken not to allow the slit to extend too far toward the head, 

 and thus to endanger the breast-bone. 



SELECTIONS OF SPECIMENS PROM A SCHOOL. 



In case of the stranding of a large school at a point from which it is 

 possible to send specimens to Washington at small expense, a full- 

 grown male and female and a young specimen should be selected. 

 (The female may be known by the presence of a short slit on each 

 side of the vent, in which the teats or mammae are concealed.) 



Measurements. — A few measurements of a considerable number of 

 specimens would also be desirable. 



PREPARATION OF A SKELETON. 



In some cases the distance from Washington or other obstacles will 

 prevent the sending of fresh specimens. Under such circumstances 

 the skin and flesb should be roughly removed from the skeleton and 

 the latter packed in dry sea-weed or sawdust. The more oily a speci- 

 men is and the longer it will be on the road the more carefully it 

 should be cleaned. This is for the reason that the heat of the oil de- 

 stroys the bones as if in a slow fire. 



The hincUUmhs.— bipedal search should be made for the rudimentary 

 bones of the hind limbs which lie in the flesh half-way between the 



Pie. 2. Pelvic 1)0116 of a porpoise — natural size. 



backbone and the vent. The neglect to preserve these bones renders 

 many specimens in museums imperfect. In a porpoise 6 or 8 feet long 

 their length would not exceed 3 or 4 inches. See alfio page 14. 



H, Mis. 67-— 74 



