BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [10] 



Be especially careful about the head. There is a chaiu of bones en- 

 circling the eye, and the eyeball itself is often a bony cup. 



Occasionally there are two or tbree bones attached to the back part 

 of the hinder portion of the head, and the patch of flesh on the cheek 

 is about all that can safely be removed. 



When the skeleton is hung up to dry place bits of wood or other ma- 

 terial between the gills so that the air may circulate freely and dry them 

 rapidly. 



Fishes, small reptiles, and toads and frogs can be best collected by 

 placing them in alcohol. 



PACKING. 



First be sure that a skeleton, and especially a small one, is thoroughly 

 dry. Otherwise it is apt to " sw^eat" and rot tlie ligaments. 



In the case of a large skeleton this Avould do no harm, but as the bones 



Fig. ]2. — Skeleton of Moxintain Slicep; A A, places where backbone may be disjointed; E, place 

 where cut should ho made to separatii i il) from breast-hono ; S, sesamoids. 



of small animals are left attached to one another by their ligaments and 

 are not wired together, any such separation causes serious injury. 



If the si)ecimen is the size of a deer, it will be necessary to disjoint 

 the backbone jnst behind the ribs in order to make a compact bundle. 



