NOTES ON THE PREPARATION OF ROUGH SKELETONS. 



By Frederic A. Lucas, 

 Assistant Curator of the Department of Comparative Anatomy. 



These directions for preparing rough skeletons have been divided 

 into sections, in order that the collector might turn at once to the por- 

 tion bearing directly on the subject in hand. The general directions for 

 mammals, however, apply with more or less force to all skeletons. 



The extent to which these instructions can be followed will of neces- 

 sity depend largely on circumstances. It is not to be expected that a 

 collector working in the field would use the same time and care as one 

 residing on the spot or located for some time at one place, but as one 

 well prepared, perfect skeleton is worth more than half a dozen muti- 

 lated specimens, a little time spent in the work of roughing out and 

 packing will be well repaid. 



IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIMENS. 



It is, of course, extremely important to know the correct name of 

 every skeleton, and whenever possible this should be attached to the 

 specimen, but it is a mere waste of valuable time to endeavor to identify 

 specimens in the field. 



When the animal is unknown, its skin, roughly taken off', should be 

 kept, or the skin of another specimen shoukl be prepared in the usual 

 manner, in order that it may serve as a means of identifying the 

 skeleton. 



LABELINa. 



The best method is to have a series of numbers, stamped on pure 

 sheet tin, and provided with a string for tying them to specimens, the 

 numbers being recorded in a notebook. 



Unfortunately these tin numbers are not always to be had, and a 

 very good substitute may be made by cutting Eoman numbers on a 

 block of wood. 



It labels are used let them be of good stout manilla, as thin paper 

 is apt to be torn or defaced. 

 L3] 



