BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM [ 4 ] 
Do not use wire of any kind to fasten tin or lead numbers to speci 
mens that are to ^o in alcohol or brine, for this sets up a galvanic action 
which results disastroush". 
t 
SELECTION OF SPECIMENS — FRACTURES. 
Where time allows, select a series of skeletons of different ages; but 
where only one skeleton can be prepared, choose a fully grown, adult 
animal, as free as possible from fractures. If an animal is shot or 
trapped it is impossible to avoid breaking some bones, and such must 
be allowed to pass, but where it has been beaten to death, fracturing 
the skull and limb bones generally, the animal had better be thrown 
away at once. 
If the skull alone is broken, select if possible another of the same 
size and send both with the body. When convenient send with a broken 
leg or wing another of the same size, but on no account throw away the 
fractured limb. 
Do not neglect any animal simply because it is common, for a com- 
mon species may be anatomically important. 
TOOLS. 
A knife and a pair of scissors are all that are ab- 
solutely necessary, but if these can be supplemented 
by one or two steel scrapers, the work will be greatly 
facilitated. 
“ROUOniNG out” — MAMMALS. 
If an animal is rare, the skin should be very care- 
fully taken off and preserved ; otherwise, remove 
the skin roughl^^ and disembowel the specimen, tak- 
ing care not to cut into the breastbone, especially 
the disk shaped iiiece of cartilage in which it ends. 
Animals destined for skeletons should on no account 
be split up the breast as though they were being 
dressed for market. 
Detach the legs from the body and remove the 
flesh, taking care in so doing not to remove the col- 
lar bone or kneepan with the meat. lu the cat 
family the collar bone is very small, and lies loose in 
flesh between the shoulder blade and front end the 
of breastbone. The collar bone of weasels is very 
minute and difficult to find, while, on the other hand, 
climbing and burrowing animals usually have this 
bone well developed, uniting the shoulderblade 
with the breastbone. 
Deer, antelopes, bears, and seals have no collar 
1)0 1 1C'. 
Fig. j. — S keleton of 
Fox leaily for pnckin,ir. 
