Introduction 
xix 
being careful in cutting about the ears and eyes, and skin 
the head clear out. Detach the skull from the body by 
cutting the flesh around the neck close to the back end of the 
skull; the head can usually then be twisted off; if not, cut 
it, but be careful not to injure the skull. Tie a tag to the 
skull, numbered to correspond with the skin. 
Skin the legs out down to the feet, and remove the flesh 
from the bones, leaving the bones attached to the skin. Put 
a wire in the tail (galvanized or tinned iron is best if the 
skin is to be salted, as it does not rust or corrode) ; file it to a 
point, if necessary, so that it may go clear to the end of the 
tail. Tie a tag showing sex, date, locality, and measurements 
taken according to accompanying directions, to a hind leg. 
Rub some salt on the flesh side of the skin, turn it right side 
out, and let it lie that way for twenty-four hours or so, then 
turn wrong side out again, and let dry in that way, without 
stretching or "casing" it in any manner. Do not dry skins 
in the sun. 
If the mammal is a small one, it is not necessary to cut 
off the flesh adhering to the skull before drying the skull. 
If the mammal is a large one, cut off the thickest flesh on 
the cheeks and between the jaws, take out the tongue, and 
then dry the skull. It is best to number skull labels on both 
sides to avoid the risk of defacing which may result if the 
marked side of the label sticks to the skull. In fly time, it is 
best to protect skulls from flies in some way. 
Use this sign, 6^, for males, and ? for females on labels. 
Small mammals can be skinned with a small-bladed knife, 
but a small pair of scissors are very handy. Small galvanized 
wire can be obtained by cutting off a piece of wire clothes- 
line and untwisting, and also from small wire rope. Most 
hardware stores keep tinned wire on small spools. Fine 
sawdust or sand will do instead of corn-meal for absorbing 
blood. 
