BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [6] 



Such flat specimens should invariably be accompanied by the skulls, 

 as well as by full data and measurements. 



8. Cut and straighten five pieces of galvanized-iron wire,' one long 

 enough to reach from tip of tail to middle of body and slender enough 

 to fit into extreme tip of tail (file the point a little, if necessary), two 

 long enough to reach from palm to middle of body, and two long enough 

 to reach from back of hind foot to middle of body. The four leg wires 

 should bo just sufficiently heavy to give stiffness to the legs and protect 

 the feet from injury wheu the skin is dry. The size of the wires needed 

 can best be learned by practice, though the following notes will serve 

 as a guide : 



Mouse: legs, No. 23; tail, No. 23 or No. 20. 



Rat or small squirrel: legs. No. 20 or No. 17; tail, No. 17. 



Large squirrel, rabbit, woodchuck, skunk : legs, No. 17 or No. 15; tail, 

 No. 15. 



For very small mice and shrews, No. 23 wire may be used for the tail 

 and No. 24 wire or Carlsbader insect pins No. 4 for the legs. 



No WIRES THAT WILL RUST SHOULD EVER BE USED; galvanized- 



iron wire is preferable to all others. Splinters of wood or bamboo are 

 often a convenient substitute for wire. 



9. Cut off' the skull and remove any loose flesh, but under ordinary 

 conditions do not attempt to remove the eyes, tongue, large muscles, or brain 

 of any animaj. smaller than a rat, as these parts can be readily dried by 

 artificial heat or direct sunlight. With larger specimens some of the 

 flesh must be cut away to prevent decay. 



In tropical countries or very damp climates^ persons having sufiBcieut 

 skill to do so without danger of injuring the specimen should remove 

 the eyes, tongue, brain, and all the large muscles, as the skulls will 

 otherwise become very offensive. Inexperienced collectors should pre- 

 serve the skulls in alcohol, formalin, or strong cane rum, taking care to 

 label them with pencil or waterproof ink on stiff" paper (not pasteboard). 

 Now fasten the skull label securely and place the skull where it will 

 dry as quicldy as possible. Unless they are drying very rapidly it will 

 be necessary to protect small skulls from flies. Never put salt, arsenic, 

 or alum on a. shull. The skull label may be fastened by seizing one end 

 of its thread between the tips of a pair of fine-pointed forceps with 

 which the thread is pushed through the flesh at the fork of the jaws 

 and out at the mouth. Or it may be tied to a short ifiece of the neck 

 left in place for the purpose. In either case the label should be tied 

 close to the bone, leaving the least possible slack. 



When many skulls are to be cared for at once they may be very con- 

 veniently treated by 'stringing' on a cord passed through the loops by 

 which the labels are attached. The 'strings' can be hung before a fire 



' When many skins are to be prepared it will be found a great convenience to keep 

 on band a supply of ready-cut wires of vai'ious lengths^ wbicb may be selected as 

 required. 



