380 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



dust gently rubbed into it, this being afterwards brushed on 

 when dry. 



6. Lay the skin on a board or piece of cork, draw out the 

 fore-paws forwards and pin them down to the board by a pin 

 passed boldly through the middle of the paw. Take care that 

 they are pinned as close in to the sides of the neck or head as 

 they possibly can be, in order .to prevent their claws catching 

 in other skins when all are packed together in boxes. Similarly 

 pin back, soles downwards, the hind feet close by the sides of 

 the tail. It is of considerable importance that neither fore nor 

 hind feet should project laterally outwards nor should curl up 

 in drying. 



7. As the skin dries, try to get the face to assume as natural 

 a shape as possible, and the ears to stand up in their natural 

 position. Tie the label on to the ankle before pinning the 

 skin down. 



8. Disarticulate skull from trunk, roughly clean it, but do 

 not boil it or separate the lower jaw, and then let it dry. Be 

 very careful not to cut or injure it in any way ; if there is not 

 time enough to get the brain out through the natural hole at 

 the back, it must be left in to dry up. Label the skull with 

 a corresponding number to that of the skin, and afterwards, 

 when both are quite dry, it may be tied on to the leg of the 

 skin, or the skulls may be packed and sent home separately 

 if so labelled as to prevent any possible confusion. 



9. Pack the skins up carefully in small boxes when they are 

 dry, with enough paper or, better still, wool, to prevent them 

 shaking about ; but if possible do not roll them up separately 

 in paper before they are dry, as drying in paper gives the fur 

 an unnaturally sleek appearance. 



10. Bats should have their wings closely folded up on each 

 side of the body, but in such a way as not to hide the fur of 

 the belly. The thumbs should be made to point inwards or 

 downwards, not outwards. 



The skinning of larger animals must necessarily be some- 

 what different to the above, but the make-up of skins should 

 be as described except that when the combined lengths of 

 body and tail exceed 30 inches the tail should be bent up 

 underneath the belly, while the fore as well as the hind feet 

 should he directed backwards. The total length over all of 



