[NHCOLL-L:753] skins and gloves

[Stuart Fullerton]

Gentlefolks:

What is the current and general position of most of you re the use of
gloves when handeling bird and mammal skins?

I recently instituted (instigated), via the "curator of birds" of our
tinly little collection, the use of white cotton gloves by all folks when
working with specimens - especially students.  I am also working on the
same idea with the gentleman responsible for the mammal skins.

i was questioned as to this practice by another member of the faculity
(new to the university) who pooh poohed the idea and laughed.

ma just curious. not sure where i got this idea to begin with so have no
real justification for same. as i was the one that paid for the gloves out
of my own pocket i am not sure that it really matters, as the bird chap is
all for the idea.

anyway - what is the general practice? and what is the prefered practice
regarding same?

cheers! rof

Stuart M Fullerton ROF, Research Associate in charge of Arthropod
Collections (UCFC), Dept. of Biology, University of Central Florida, PO
Box 162368, Orlando, Florida, 32816-2368, USA. stuartf at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
(407) 823-6540 (no voice mail)  <http://biology.ucf.edu/bugs/>