MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 633 



The Rodentia are another class well worthy of 

 study, and any light thrown upon their habits and 

 peculiarities will prove very serviceable. 



The Cetacea likewise should be carefully ob- 

 served, and no opportunity omitted of taking accu- 

 rate notes and drawings, and of preserving parts, or 

 the whole, of any individuals met with, excepting, 

 of course, common and well known species. 



The country to be visited will influence the col- 

 lector's mode of procedure ; and it is advisable to 

 endeavour to obtain information, and to seek for 

 suggestions from competent authorities as to what 

 particular localities afford, and what should be espe- 

 cially observed. 



Skinning. — First attend to wounds and staunch 

 the flow of blood, if any, by introducing a plug of 

 cotton, or otherwise absorb it. Suppose, for ex- 

 ample, the animal to be a monkey, place it on its 

 back with the head from you ; cleanse the mouth 

 and put in some cotton or tow, to prevent blood or 

 any moisture from flowing out ; separate the hairs 

 down the middle of the belly to the right and the 

 left, then make an incision from the sternum to the 

 pubic arch, and if the skin be thin and delicate, 

 let it be continued to near the arms ; and here it 

 will be necessary to state, that as the process of 

 skinning proceeds, dry plaster of Paris should be 

 laid on the exposed muscle, to absorb any blood, 

 and to render the stripping easier by prevent- 

 ing the adhesion of the skin. Care must be taken 

 not to cut through the abdominal muscles ; and 



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