92 
HINTS TO TRAVELLERS. 
may advantageously be converted into a skeleton by attention to the 
following directions of the late Sir W. H. Flower, f.r.s. :— 
If the animal is of small size—say not larger than a fox—take off the 
skin except from the feet below the wrist and ankle joints. If it is 
intended to preserve the skin as a zoological specimen as well as the 
skeleton, the bones of the feet should all be left in the skin; they can be 
easily extracted afterwards, and will be preserved much more safely in 
their natural covering. Remove all the contents of the abdominal and 
thoracic cavities; also the larynx, gullet, and tongue. In doing this be 
careful to leave attached to the base of the skull the chain of bones which 
supports the root of the tongue. These may either be left in connection 
with the skull, or cleaned separately and tied to the skeleton. Then 
clear away, with the aid of a knife, as much as possible of the flesh from 
the head, body, and limbs, without cutting or scraping the bones, or 
separating them from each other. At any intervals that may be neces¬ 
sary during this process it will be desirable, if practicable, to leave the 
body in water, so as to wash away as much of the blood as possible from 
the bones, and a few days’ soaking in water frequently changed will be 
an advantage. 
' The body, with all the bones held in connection by their ligaments, 
should then be hung up to dry in a place where there is a free current of 
air, and out of the way of attacks from animals of prey. Before they 
get hard the limbs may be folded by the side of the body in the most 
convenient position, or they may be detached and placed inside the 
trunk. 
When thoroughly dry the skeletons may be packed in boxes with any 
convenient light packing material between them. Each should be well 
wrapped in a separate piece of paper or canvas, as sometimes insects will 
attack the ligamentary structures and allow the bones to come apart. 
If it can be avoided, skeletons should never be packed up so long as 
any moisture remains in them, as otherwise decomposition will go on in 
the still adhering soft parts, and cause an unpleasant smell. 
If the animal is of larger size, it will be most convenient to take it 
partially to pieces before or during the cleaning. The head may be 
separated from the neck, the vertebral column divided into two or more 
pieces, and the limbs detached from the trunk; but in no case should 
the small bones of the feet be separated from one another. The partg 
