8 
skinning, if the subject be recently killed, the mouth and nose, 
and any wound that may be upon it, should be filled up with 
tow, flax, or cotton, to prevent soiling the skin. 
Spirits of turpentine, or creosote, should be applied, if the col¬ 
lector should have either, to parts upon which flies may have 
made a deposite. 
If the animal to be skinned be very large, as a buffalo, moose 
deer, elk, &c., it may be necessary to make the abdominal in¬ 
cision to extend to the throat or chin, and cross incision cor¬ 
responding with and extending down the extremities. 
In rolling up a dry skin, commence with the head, and intro¬ 
duce straw, hay, or grass, when necessary, to prevent rubbing, 
and to make the whole compact. 
Skeletons of existing species are not only interesting physio¬ 
logically, but very important in investigating the fossil remains 
of those that are extinct. In preparing them for transporta¬ 
tion to a scientific institution, where they are to undergo a fur¬ 
ther and complete preparation, it is only necessary to remove 
all the flesh, skin, brain, and other soft parts, cartilages 
excepted, that can be conveniently done, and then to expose 
the skeleton in this condition until the little that is left becomes 
completely dry, when it is ready for packing. If the animal 
be large, it will be better to separate the head and extremities 
from the back bone and pelvis, for convenience in packing. 
This should be done at the appropriate joints. Skeletons may 
also be prepared by burying the subject, and allowing it to re¬ 
main sufficiently long for the destruction of the soft parts. 
Natural skeletons of small animals are beautifully prepared by 
exposing the animal to the depredations of ants and wasps. 
In packing skeletons, a separate box or bag should, if possi¬ 
ble, be made for each one. 
When the entire skeleton cannot be had, the head, at least, 
should be attempted to be secured. 
It is only the smaller animals that can be conveniently pre¬ 
served entire, which is done by immersion in spirits. The 
facility of skinning even these, however, renders this generally 
unnecessary. 
Birds. There is considerable similarity between the opera- 
