PREPARING SKINS OF MAMMALS. 
11 
a manner that large creases should not be formed. Smaller skins 
should always be folded and dried without creasing. Some pre¬ 
servative, such as alum, or one of the special preparations sold for 
the purpose by dealers, should now be well rubbed in, especially on 
the ears, mouth, feet, etc., and the whole specimen sprinkled with the 
same. The hairy side of the skin has next to be well anointed with 
turpentine, and the specimen will be ready for packing. When 
skins are shot during the rainy season, they are very difficult to get 
dried, and it is then recommended that, if possible, they should be 
pickled in brine. 
In addition to the skin, it is essential that the skull, and, if 
possible, the bones of the limbs, should be preserved as complete as 
possible. The flesh should be carefully cut away, the brain taken 
out through the natural hole at the back, and the bones soaked for 
a few hours in water, after which they may be dried in the sun. 
In hot, dry climates the teeth should be coated with wax in order 
to prevent their splitting. A wash of turpentine over the skulls 
and other bones will prevent the ravages of insects. 
The following list contains the names of many of the larger Wild 
Mammals of which specimens are wanted by the Museum. In 
addition to these, skins and skeletons or skulls of well-established 
breeds of Domesticated Mammals from all parts of the world are 
required. 
Skins of a considerable number of species of the larger Mammals 
are required for mounting in the exhibition galleries, either to 
replace indifferent specimens now exhibited, or as representatives of 
forms at present not shown at all. Such are indicated by a cross (t) 
in the list. 
In addition to this (and more especially in view of the approaching 
partial, if not complete, extermination of many species), it is of the 
highest importance that the Museum should acquire a series of skins 
of all the larger species of Mammals as a study-collection, and also 
a duplicate set for future mounting, thus making three sets in all. 
Skins of all species, whether rare or common, will therefore be 
acceptable, and no specimens if properly labelled, can fail to be of 
present or future use. Some of those more urgently needed for the 
store and study series are introduced into the list below, being 
