NEWSLETTER OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN BIOLOGICAL SURVEY PROGRAM, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, WASHINGTON , D.C. 
MAY 1966 NO. 5 
PROCESSING OF BIRD SPECIMENS 
Important Part of Program s Activities 
The Pacific Ocean Biological 
Survey Program, whose field work 
has been described in earlier 
issues of the Pacific Bird Observer, 
also does much work at the desk, in 
the libraries, and in the specimen 
collections. At the U.S. National 
Museum in Washington, D.C., POBSP 
employees spend many hours compil- 
ing, analysing and synthesizing 
data so that our new discoveries 
may be presented in reports, tech- 
nical papers, and other publica- 
tions. One step in the chain of 
events leading to such publications 
is the processing of bird specimens. 
Bird specimens arrive at the 
National Museum in one of three 
forms; as museum skins (the skin 
and feathers of the bird with the 
body removed and replaced by 
cotton), as alcoholic specimens 
(whole birds immersed in alcohol 
or other preservative solutions) or 
as skeletons. Each specimen type 
is processed in a slightly different 
manner. 
Museum skins and skeletons 
arrive at the Museum packed in 
cotton to prevent damage in transit. 
They are immediately transferred to 
the ■ fumatorium (a chamber about the 
size of an automobile garage), where 
they are exposed to a combination of 
the highly toxic gases, carbon 
tetrachloride and ethylene dichlo- 
ride. This precaution is taken so 
that any noxious insects which 
might accompany the specimen will 
be destroyed. If these skins were 
not so processed any such insects 
upon them might escape, establish 
( Cont 1 d on next page ) 
Museum Aide Jan Reese cataloging POBSP~] 
specimens. (Photo by Tina C. Clapp) j 
