22 
dioxide) and water. Other methods of neutralizing the acid present might also be 
tried, such as the addition of calcium carbonate, or sodium phosphate (tri) I believe 
there is enough variation in different lots of formalin to make it inadvisable to recom- 
mend the addition of a specific weight of the material suggested for trial” (F. G. 
Green, 1937), 
Where the above preservatives are not available, carcasses may be 
salted or preserved in strong brine. Small specimens may be injected or 
immersed in a weak solution of carbolic acid or lysol. Specimens in the 
flesh, or carcasses for dissecting purposes, may also be preserved by immer- 
sion in glycerine, or in the glycerine and alcohol solution used by 
botanists for preserving algae, etc., namely: in proportions, 90 cc. of 70 
per cent ethyl alcohol to 10 cc. pure glycerine. Skins may be kept in a soft 
state for some time by painting the flesh side of the skin with a mixture 
of carbolic acid and glycerine. In placing animal specimens in any kind 
of solution be sure that they arc first cut open and thoroughly immersed; 
also that the fur is wet through. 
Collecting Cases 
A travelling collector who expects to put up a great many skins will 
find it convenient to have a specially constructed drying box with open 
spaces on several sides, covered with wire gauze, and fitted inside with 
several light trays of varying depth. The bottom of each tray is of wire 
netting, and crossed by movable slats to keep bird skins in place. In such 
a box skins may be dried while in transit. A smooth-fitting cover of 
waterproof canvas may be made to slip over the top and sides to keep off 
rain when moving, and it may be put over the box at night to lessen 
humidity. This type of collecting case has been used by collectors for the 
National Museum of Canada for several years (See Figure 1). 
Figure 1. Ventilated collecting case with gauze-bottomed trays. 
Gauze-bottom trays may be used in ordinary field-chests, steamer 
trunks, regulation army locker-trunk, or telescope fibre-cases. When 
