COLLECTING AND PRESERVING MAMMALS. 
45 
or three weeks, when the whole mass will become decom- 
posed ; then on the top will be found a thin layer of a 
clear liquid having an ineffably disagreeable odor. This 
fluid should be poured off carefully into a small phial and 
closely corked ; it is to be used in the same manner as the 
other scents.* 
Bats may be shot, or taken during daylight beneath the 
shingles of buildings, or in hollow trees. One or two spe- 
cies, however, remain outside, suspended to a branch or 
leaf of a tree. 
Plaster may be used to absorb the flow of blood from 
mammals, as well as from birds. 
Section II. Measuring. — To measure a mammal pre- 
paratory to skinning : Place it upon its back, then with the 
dividers measure the distance from the tip of the nose to 
the front side of the eye, record this as the distance from 
the tip of the nose to the eye,” then from the tip of the nose 
to the ear; this is ‘^the distance from the nose to the ear”; 
then from the tip of the nose to the occiput, or back of the 
head, for “ the distance from the nose to the occiput.” With 
the rule find the distance from ‘Hhe nose to the root of the 
tail,” also the distance from “the tip of the nose to the tip 
of the longest toe of the outstretched hind leg ” ; then 
with the dividers find the length of the vertebra of the tail 
from the root ; this is “ the length of the tail to the end of 
the vertebra.” With the dividers, measure the hair on the 
end of the tail for “the length of the hair.” Measure the 
length of the hind leg from the knee-joint to the tip of the 
longest claw of the longest toe for “ the length of the hind 
leg.” Measure the length of the front leg from the elbow- 
joint to the tip of the longest claw of the longest toe ; this is 
“the length of the front leg.” The width of the hand is 
found by measuring the width of the outspread forefoot or 
^ This receipt was kindly given to me by Mr. George Smith of Wal- 
tham, who has used it successfully, as I have personally witnessed. 
