MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 655 



piece of twine, while the quill feathers serve to en- 

 close the whole within a small and safe package. It 

 will be requisite to remove only the viscera and 

 pectoral muscles of small species before drying them. 



The sterna of such birds as have been skinned 

 may be preserved by removing the large pectoral 

 muscles, and drying them. The furcula, clavicles, 

 and scapulae, should be allowed to remain attached 

 to each sternum ; all the rest can be separated. 



Reptiles and Amphibians may be prepared as the 

 Mammalia, the large species having the bones sepa- 

 rated, and either boiled or dried at once, and the 

 small species having the chief part of the muscle 

 removed and dried entire ; with some it will be 

 sufficient to remove the viscera only, and then dry 

 them. Turtles and tortoises may be preserved by 

 removing the plastron from the carapace as directed 

 for skinning, dissecting the muscle from the neck 

 and extremities, and taking away the viscera and 

 fat from the interior of the shell. Most of the small 

 species of Reptiles, and particularly the Amphibians, 

 which are intended for skeletons, will be best pre- 

 served in spirits. 



Fish. — The heads of fish may generally be pre- 

 served by removing some of the muscle from the 

 cheeks and drying them, or where rapid dessication 

 can be effected, they may be dried entire. The whole 

 fish may frequently be preserved for a skeleton by 

 removing the viscera and drying it; or when it is too 

 large, or, where, from other causes it cannot be dried 

 with sufficient speed, the muscle may be removed 



