MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 651 



to compensate for the contraction of the muscle in 

 drying. After the application of the preservative, 

 the skin should be filled out, the form of the fish 

 being carefully preserved on one side, after which 

 the opening may be sewn up. It is recommended 

 that, when circumstances permit, the fins should 

 be stretched with pins on cork, as they can seldom 

 be so well expanded after having once been dried. 



To prepare sections of fish, the skin must be cut 

 all round along the base of the fins on one side, 

 separating it from the head, which, however, must 

 be left entire ; that part of the skin is next to be 

 taken away, and the body may then be removed in 

 the usual manner. The proper form and convexity 

 are to be given to the section by pinning it upon a 

 thin piece of soft wood and stuffing it, at the same 

 time expanding the fins. When the skin is dry, it 

 may be removed from the board and packed. In 

 preparing the skins of fish the gills should, as a ge- 

 neral rule, be allowed to remain ; but when, from 

 their size, they are likely to retain too much mois- 

 ture, they ought to be carefully removed, and dried 

 separately. The palatal bones and other parts of 

 the mouth should never be mutilated. 



Sharks. — The whole of the body and head must 

 be removed in skinning these animals, leaving the 

 jaws attached ; and as the skin is closely and firmly 

 connected to the muscle it will be necessary to dis- 

 sect with much caution ; if the skin be filled out, 

 the natural form, especially of the head, should be 

 accurately retained. 



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