Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 32-34. (2014)
Museology
The Catalog of the mammals collection of the Mures County Museum, Natural Science Department 16. Muscardinus avellanarius, 1 piece naturalized 17. Mustela erminea, 1 piece skin 18. Mustela nivalis, 3 pieces naturalized 19. Mustelaputorius, 3 pieces naturalized 20. Myotis myotis, 1 piece study skin 21. Myoxus glis, 3 pieces naturalized 22. Ondatra zibethicus, 48 pieces (2 naturalized, 46 skulls) 23. Ovis ammon, 1 piece naturalized 24. Panthera leo, 2 pieces skin and skull 25. Rupicapra rupicapra, 4 pieces trophy 26. Sciurus vulgaris, 1 piece naturalized 27. Sorex araneus, 2 pieces study skin with skull 28. Spalax leucodon, 1 piece skin 29. Sus scrofa, 14 pieces (4 skulls, 1 piece naturalized, 9 fangs) 30. Talpa europaea (?), 2 pieces naturalized 31. Ursus arctos, 2 pieces, (1 carpet, 1 skull, Fig.4) 32. Vulpes vulpes, 231 pieces, (3 naturalized, 228 skulls, 2 penis bone) Of the five otter skulls, three were donated to the museum by Bäcescu George from Murighiol (Tulcea county) at our suggestion. According to Mr. Bäcescu several specimens of otter die annually in nets and pots. Eventhough many species of otters are protected, the total number of animals caught in the nets and pots is difficult to estimate, because these otters are not tolerated by anglers. The fourth specimen, probably shot and mortally wounded, was found dead in ponds in Iernut. The fifth item, a beautiful male was hit by a truck at Bäläu?eri (Mure? County). The local Zoo contributed to enrich the museum collection with 7 dead items: 1 piece of Ovis ammon, 2 pieces of Ammotragus lervia (Fig. 1), 2 pieces of Capreolus capreolus (Fig. 2) and a male and a female of Panthera leo. Five pieces were naturalized and the lion skins were preserved for later naturalization. The two wolves bodies, naturalized and later displayed in the exhibition of the museum (Fig- 7, 10), were purchased from hunters. Two skulls were received as donation from hunters and four skulls originating from §icasäu, Harghita County, are coming from a former local gamekeeper, Mr. Szász Andor. Often, many small animals fall victim to car accidents on the roads. Very few of them reach the museum in a good shape for further naturalization or partial recovery (skull, skin). Among them, are the two copies of naturalized hedgehogs, the tree marten (Martes martes) skull, a ferret and a deer. A group of individuals organized and promoted by Mr. Sárkány К. Andrei and helped by Szombath §tefan — master hunter, wanted to enrich the museum collection as well as designing a scientific paper about the craniometry study of Vulpes vulpes species. As a result of their efforts the remains of 231 pieces of fox came to the museum through their collection actions About 50 years ago, the appearancee of muskrat on Mure? County was a novelty for local hunters. Over time, this invasive species settled on the wetland ecosystems in the county, causing a population explosion. As the muskrat population increased many hunters began to take interest in the muskrat for his fur. Because of the increased interest in muskrats, the Museum began collecting skulls by principal curator Sárkány К. Andrei (38 skulls, 1 skin), aided by Szombath §tefan (8 skulls collected) and Godan Elena, who brought a dead animal that has been naturalized. 175
