APPENDIX 385 



DIRECTIONS AS TO THE PRESEEVATION OF THE 



SKINS AND OTHER TROPHIES OF ANIMALS 



ON THE FIELD 



Contributed by Edwin Ward, F.Z.S. 



Geneeal. — It must always be bome in mind that the value of any 

 object secured and preserved depends on the completeness with which 

 aU its natural features are saved, as well as the condition ia which 

 they are kept. This is true in degree, for whatever purpose the object 

 is designed ; but it is an absolute essential ia regard to specimens for 

 the illustration of natural history. 



Labge Game. — Those met with in the Central India district will 

 most generally be, the Felidce, most important of which is the Tiger; 

 many smaller Camivora ; of homed beasts, the gigantic gour — Bos 

 Sylhetanus — commonly called the Indian bison; buffalo, sdmbar, 

 cheetal, and other deer. There is also the elephant, largest of all, 

 and other pachyderms. 



When the great game is secured, first turn the animal on its back, 

 and stretching apart the fore and hind legs, proceed to renaove the 

 skia. In all cases where the skia is wanted entire, this is best done 

 by making incision from one comer of the mouth through the medial 

 line of belly to the extremity of tail. Next make lateral incisions 

 in order to strip the limbs ; for the fore-legs, from the edge of central 

 incision through the armpit along the inner side of the limb, the line 

 of incision inchning slightly to the outer portion, in order that the 

 seam may be less perceptible when the perfect specimen is mounted. 

 A like process through the groin is necessary for the hind-legs. The 

 incisions thus made leave the skia in form of tongue-pieces over the 

 breast. First apply the knife to these points and detach the skin 

 round to the spide. In doing this it is necessary to clear the limbs, 

 and great care must be taken to leave iatact the natural features of 

 the foot. The last metacarpal and metatarsal bones must be left in 

 the skin, whether in the case of Felidw or Cervidw. Now turn over 

 the carcase and draw back the whole skin over the head, exercising 

 particular care in separating the ears and the eyes from the skull. 

 Similar care must be taken as to the lips. For if the rim of the eyelids 

 be severed by the scalpel the injury spreads in a remarkable manner, 

 often so badly as to render the damage seriously conspicuous. As 

 to the ears, they should be separated from the skull close to the bone, 

 or the lower structure wiU present too large an aperture. The lips 

 must be cut off close to the gums. Having thus taken off the skin 

 it must be cleaned of all superfluous fat and flesh. The cartilage of 



