rx. 
- c" 
/- / 
/ 
NOTES ON THE PREPARATION OF ROUGH SKELETONS, 
By Frederic A. Lucas, 
Assistant Curator of f'kfi Dfivartment of Comparative Anatomy. 
These directions for preparing rough skeletons have been divided 
into sections, in order that the collector might turn at once to the por* 
tion bearing directly on the subject in hand. The general directions for 
mammals, however, apply with more or less force to all skeletons. 
The extent to which these instructions can be followed will of neces- 
sity depend largely on circumstances. It is not to be expected that a 
collector working in the field would use the same time and care as one 
residing on the spot or located for some time at one place, but as one 
well prepared, perfect skeleton is worth more than half a dozen muti- 
lated specimens, a little time spent in the work of roughing out and 
packing will be well rei)aid. 
IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIMENS. 
It is, of course, extremely important to know the correct name of 
every skeleton, and whenever possible this should be attached to the 
specimen, but it is a mere waste of valuable time to endeavor to identify 
specimens in the field. 
When the animal is unknown, its skin, roughly taken off, should be 
kept, or the skin of another specimen should be prepared in the usual 
manner, in order that it may serve as a means of identifying the 
skeleton. 
LABELING. 
The best method is to have a series of numbers, stamped on pure 
sheet tin, and provided with a string for tying them to specimens, the 
numbers being recorded in a notebook. 
Unfortunately these tin numbers are not always to be had, and a 
very good substitute maybe made by cutting Koman numbers on a 
block of wood. 
II labels are used let them be of good stout manilla, as thin paper 
is apt to be torn or defaced. 
L31 
