41 
collectors have a careless habit of putting nothing but their catalogue 
numbers on the skins; but field notebooks are frequently lost and then it 
is almost impossible to identify the specimens accurately. The initials are 
useful in case several collectors are sending in material. For large col- 
lections of skulls it is convenient to have small tags of sheet tin or Monel- 
metal stamped with serial numbers. These may be attached to the skulls 
with Monel-metal wire, and are not affected by water or corroded by other 
liquids. For large skulls and bones a piece of sole leather or any heavy 
leather makes the best labels and the number and initials may be carved 
with a jack-knife. A smooth piece of wood also makes a very good label 
and any desired data may be carved on it. The only caution is not to 
use too thin a piece of wood, which is liable to split and come loose from its 
fastenings. The strength and durability of a label should, of course, be in 
keeping with the stress that the specimen has to undergo. A mouse or bat 
is small and light, and wall not stand much strain without destruction and 
must be properly packed, whereas buffalo, walrus, and whales will probably 
have to undergo heavy handling before reaching the safe haven of a 
museum. 
Although the field notes of a good collector, and sometimes the 
“remarks” in the field catalogue, will contain notes on the character of 
the area in which the animal was taken, that is, “sparsely wooded hillside,” 
“sphagnum bog,” “salt marsh,” etc., in addition to approximate altitude, 
Hamilton (1938, page 102) urges that as much detail as space allows 
should be recorded on the specimen label where it is more apt to be avail- 
able in the future. He suggests noting with sex , reproduction condition; 
stomach contents, if not saved, note what can be determined by cursory 
examination; food contents of cheek pouches; and parasites, the presence 
or absence of fleas, mites, ticks, roundworms, bladderworms, and their rela- 
tive abundance. The study of animal parasites is becoming of great 
importance in both human and veterinary pathology, and specimens taken 
from definitely known hosts should be preserved when possible, and noted 
on the “host” label. 
Every separate part of a specimen — skin, skull, loose bones, or sec- 
tions of a skeleton — should bear the same field number, and at least one 
part, preferably the skin, should have a label firmly attached, carrying 
the following data, of which items Nos. (2), (3), and (4) are absolutely 
essential. 
(1) Collector's field number. 
(2) Locality, or place of capture. 
(3) Date of capture. 
(4) Sex of the specimen. 
(5) Measurements of the specimen. 
(6) Collector’s name. 
(7) Colours of soft parts; eyes, lips, and any areas not covered by hair. 
FIELD CATALOGUE 
A catalogue or notebook containing a list of specimens collected 
should be kept and each specimen numbered as it is prepared. This num- 
ber should be written in the catalogue, on the label tied to the skin, and on 
the label fastened to the skull. The catalogue or the field notes should 
contain any pertinent data for which there is not room on the label. To 
