376 



ZOOLOGY 



[Sect. XI 



specimeiij such specimen should be removed after a few 

 days, according to'' the temperature, into fresh spirit or 

 solution. 



The larger mammals must be skinned, taking care that 

 the head and feet remain attached to the skin according 



to the directions subsequently glven« Such skins, if trans- 



mitted eitr^^r- in spirits or the arsenical solution No. II., 

 usually arrive in excellent condition, and maybe mounted 

 as well as if recently taken off tlie animal, which is never 

 the case with such as hiwe been dried. If the circumstances 

 under which the animal is taken will admit of preserving 

 the skeleton, that ought to l>e done ; for its importance 

 is of great moment in a physiological point of view, 

 not only as relating to the orgaaii;^ation of the animal, 

 but as a measure of comparison with other living species, 

 and with those which are extinct and only found in a fossil 

 state. If want of space or other circumstances forbid the 



pr 





rvation of the entire skeleton, the skull is the most 



valuable part to select, and it should be preserved when- 



. -1 



ever tne opportunity occurs. 



The mode of preparing the skull of a mam-mal for the 

 .....seum is to place the head in a jar of water until the 



soft parts become detached by maceration and putrefac- 



tion ; being then washed clean, care being taken to pre- 



vent the loss of the small ear-bones^ tongue-bone, or loose 

 teeth, it should bf^ placed in fresh water, and the water 



until the skull becomes free frout 



.nd 



frequently 



offensive smell : it should then be exposed to the sun a 



air, and will in a few days become beautifully white. 

 But this process is not requisite for the mere preservation 

 and transmit Jon of skulls : if the brain be broken down 



I 



t 



f 



-J 



