62 
Laying out Specimens for Drying 
In order to dry properly, the skin should be pinned out on a board. 
If obtainable, sheets of pressed cork, such as are used by entomologists for 
pinning out insects, are superior to anything else for small mammals, but 
any soft board that pins can penetrate will do. 
The stuffed skin will probably be somewhat rough and distorted, and 
should be laid out as nearly as possible in the shape and size of the dead 
animal. It is convenient to keep the skinned body at hand until after the 
laying out of the skin, but the length of body and tail can be taken from 
the measurements made at the start. Lay the skin beside the skinned body 
and gently compress or elongate the skin with the fingers so that the 
lengths of tail and body correspond with those of the carcass. The writer’s 
method is to anchor the skin in place by a pin through the base of the tail, 
then to place a pair of pins crossing over the middle of the tail to hold it 
in line with the body. Bring the tip of the nose to its proper place, and 
draw the front paws into line, parallel with the sides of body, pinning them 
in place by one pin through each paw. The hind legs should then be drawn 
back into place, parallel with body, and pinned with back of foot up. 
One other pair of pins should be put in the board at the outer side of each 
Figure 20. Pinning out a small mammal skin for drying. 
foot near the heel to keep it parallel with the body (Figure 20). If neces- 
sary, pins may be put between the toes to spread them. This is more 
desirable with webbed toes or toes with fringed edges, such as those of the 
water shrew. If the head is properly stuffed it need not be pinned, but if 
the nose has a tendency to spring up, it may be held in place by a pin 
set at an angle along each side of face. Be careful that these pins do not 
leave a groove in the damp skin. 
Tie the labels with the complete data to the right hind foot, making 
a secure double knot just above the heel, so that the thread cannot slip 
off (Figure 20). Never put on a label with a slip knot or half hitch as 
the label is apt to get lost. It is best to put a label on the skull at once 
and hang the skull up, but it may be pinned for drying on the board with 
the skin. A pin should be run through the space inside of the cheek 
bone, but holes should never be made in a mammal skull. Some well- 
made skins of different species are shown in Figure 21. 
Burt (Mammals of Michigan, 1946) gives suggestions on collecting 
specimens of the groups found in Michigan, a list of representative habitats, 
and (pages 32-44) on preparation of specimens. His method of preparing 
small mammal skins differs from the preceding methods little more than 
