668 



REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



in a dry state there is no alternative. They must be handled carefully 

 when handled at all, and when prepared for shipment must he packed 

 on all sides with straiv, shavings, hay, or some other soft material, which 

 will keep the hair away from the sides of the box. A large elk skin 



i^-v 





A 



1 



'W? 



FlG. 9. — A badly made dry deer skin. 



recently received by the Museum was ruined by not being packed 

 properly. There was no filling around it to keep it away from the 

 rough boards of the box, and consequently the hair was rubbed oil* in 

 about twenty places. 



PRESERVING SKINS FOR MOUNTING. 



A great many collectors and sportsmen are often specially called upon 

 to procure skins for immediate mounting, and it is always desired that 

 these should be as perfect in every respect as possible. 



Let me here call the attention of all collectors to the following fact : 



A mammal skin tcliich has never been dried and hardened can he mounted 

 in one third less time and with far greater accuracy than the best dry si' in 

 of the same hind. 



This being the case, it is certainly worth while to preserve skins in a 

 soft state. A skin may be removed very unskillfully, but if kept soft 

 until it reaches the taxidermist, it can be mounted with gratifying suc- 

 cess. On the other hand, the dry skins of the most experienced collector 

 can be mounted well only with difficulty. 



The following methods are recommended : 



In a temperate climate. — Under ordinary circumstances, in a temperate 

 climate a skin may be preserved in a soft state by rubbing salt very 

 thoroughly on the inside, and then leaving the skin turned wrong-side 



