LIVING ANIMALS 79 



(usually written D.B.H.) ; age of tree (if possible) ; and color 

 and other description of bark. 



As soon as woods reach camp or base, provision must be made 

 to air-dry them partially by proper stacking. Avoid damp places, 

 and do not place any specimen in contact with the soil. If 

 possible stack them away from direct sunlight, with the ends 

 toward prevailing winds so that air currents can pass through the 

 piles. Lay two poles on the ground and pile the blocks on them, 

 with the larger pieces at the bottom to prevent the pile from 

 becoming top-heavy. Separators made of small saplings should 

 be placed on top of each row in the stack to assist further the 

 passage of air. When collections are made during rainy seasons, 

 it is also necessary to erect some kind of shelter over the stacks. 



When only a few specimens are collected, simpler drying 

 methods may be substituted, the main idea being not to dry 

 them so rapidly as to cause undue checking, nor so slowly as 

 to induce sap stain or fungus discolorations. 



For shipping, pack the sections of logs in crates or boxes, 

 wedging them in with packing material so that they cannot rub 

 or move so as to be damaged. 



LIVING ANIMALS 



Members of the armed services and other travelers returning 

 from abroad frequently bring back as pets or mascots living 

 birds or other animals. Some of these come eventually to 

 zoological gardens, so that the National Zoological Park in 



