6 collector's manual 



MAMMALS 



A scientific mammal specimen ordinarily consists of two items, 

 the skin and the skull. Skins of small, and even of large mammals, 

 may be removed with a small pocket knife if no other tool is 

 available. The following equipment, however, is ordinarily used 

 by preparators: 



Small scalpel. 



Large scalpel. 



Small, pointed scissors. 



Slender forceps or tweezers. 



Small pliers with wire cutter. 



Dividers for measuring specimens. 



Steel tape or rule, marked in millimeters and inches. 



Toothbrush for removing dirt, dried blood, and sawdust from 



skins. 

 File, three-cornered or flat. 

 Carborundum or oilstone. 

 Needle and thread. 

 Suitable tough paper for labels. 

 Pins. 



Cotton, tow, and excelsior for stuffing. 

 Fine hardwood sawdust or corn meal for absorbent. 

 Arsenic. 

 Alum. 



No. 23 wire for mouse legs; No. 23 or No. 20 wire for mouse tails. 

 No. 20 or No. 17 wire for legs of rats or small squirrels. 

 No. 17 wire for rat or squirrel tails. 



No. 17 or No. 15 wire for legs of large squirrels, rabbits, or skunks. 

 No. 15 wire for tail of large squirrels, rabbits, or skunks. 

 A soft-rubber bulb syringe or a piston syringe is useful for 



removing brains from small skulls. 



Prepare two labels, one for the skin, the other for the skull. 

 The label data shown (fig. 4) are standard for mammal specimens. 



