282 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Dec. 1, 1866, 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Preserving Birds, &c. — The only method of 

 preserving birds, &c, effectually from the attacks of 

 moths, &c, is that invented and employed by the 

 late Chas. Waterton; viz., completely saturating 

 every portion of the plumage in solution of corrosive 

 sublimate, taking the greatest care that no part, 

 however small, escape the action of the solution. 

 Mr. Waterton recommends, in order to insure this, 

 that the bird be completely immersed previous to 

 being skinned. This I have found to answer 

 admirably. When the bird is dry after immersion, 

 the skinning may be proceeded with in the ordinary 

 manner, and the interior painted over with the same 

 solution. Moths or mites will never attack speci- 

 mens prepared like this, and I have no doubt but 

 that the uncased specimens mentioned by "G. B. C." 

 were prepared in this manner. Two drachms of 

 corrosive sublimate iu one ounce of spirits of wine, 

 is, I think, the proportion. Put the former into a 

 bottle of the latter, and let it stand twenty-four 

 hours, when draw off the clear portion, and it is fit 

 for use. The solution may be applied to the feathers 

 with a camel-hair brush ; but this is not nearly so 

 effectual as complete immersion. — /. S., Jun. 



Ticks on Puffin. — Both the Razor-bill and 

 Guillemot (which are the birds usually called 

 Puffins on this coast) are much infested with ticks ; 

 uor is the true Puffin better off. Out of scores of 

 specimens, I have seldom found one that had not 

 some of the parasites on its head or neck, but never 

 any other part. On the neck of the Shag, too, I 

 have seen ticks fully as large as an ordinary waist- 

 coat-button. They closely resemble the common 

 dog-tick ; but I cannot say whether the species is 

 identical.—/. S., Jun. 



Confervoid Growth in Slides. — Could you 

 inform me of a means of preventing confervoid 

 growths among diatoms prepared for mounting ? I 

 have treated a pure gathering with sulphuric acid 

 and chlorate of potash, and washed with distilled 

 water • but however quickly the operation is per- 

 formed, these troublesome growths appear, and spoil 

 my slides. 1 have tried benzole, creosote, and 

 spirits of wine, shaken up in the water, but without 

 success. I shall be very much obliged if you can 

 aid me in this matter. The growths, I may add, 

 show themselves in the water in which the diatoms 

 are washed, and do not arise from damp ou the 

 slides after mounting. — /. M. S. 



AsniALTE Varnish.— When Mr. Davies's work- 

 came out two or three years since, I prepared several 

 ot his receipts ; amongst others, the Asphalte Var- 

 nish, which several correspondents have had a diffi- 

 culty in making. Having succeeded in my first 

 attempt, I will describe the process for the informa- 

 tion of the less fortunate. In the first place I pro- 

 cured a lump of genuine india-rubber (not the black 

 squares usually sold), and cut it in very thin slices, 

 dipping the knife in water, which makes the opera- 

 tion much easier. These slices I put into the mineral 

 naphtha, placing the bottle in the suninside a window 

 lrcquently shaking it, and in ten days it formed a 

 clear solution, to which I added the asphalte (u hie i 

 must be pure) in small lumps, and by shaking the 

 bottle lrcquently it was quite dissolved, and formed 

 an excellent varnish in less than a week.—/ J 



Common Prawn. — Is there any parasite that 

 attacks the common Prawn? I was very much 

 amused the other clay in watching one of my Prawns 

 cleaning himself. Besides the performances usual 

 on such occasions, I observed him suddenly seize 

 hold of one of his antennae with bis two large claws 

 and hold it perfectly firm, while with the smaller 

 pair he rubbed and scratched, and finally pulled por- 

 tions off a black spot on it that appeared no larger 

 than a pin's point. Seeing him near the surface of 

 the water some days after, I perceived that the spot 

 still remained, and that the antenna was notched 

 through half its thickness. Soon after this he 

 exuviated, when it broke in half at the diseased 

 place, and it has not grown since. — John D. Richard- 

 son, Jun. 



Taxidermy.— In answer to your correspondent 

 G. B. C, I would suggest that he tries a weak solu- 

 tion of corrosive sublimate with camphorated spirits 

 of wine, and after his specimen is set up, to paint it 

 over with the solution with a camel-hair brush. It 

 dries immediately, and does not affect the colours.— 

 H. H. Knocker. 



Mounting. — Your correspondent in Science 

 Gossip, " James W. Impey," says he finds difficulty 

 in' getting the balsam to harden when mounting 

 objects for the microscope. Perhaps he uses the 

 balsam too thick, and puts too much of it on. 1 thin 

 mine with spirits of turpentine, and use as little of it 

 for each object as possible. 1 let them lie under the 

 clips for three or four days, or some a week, if the 

 object is thick, and then lay them flat on a board for 

 three weeks or so, when I always find the balsam on 

 the outside hard enough to scrape off, and allow of 

 the slide being cleaned and papered, which prevents 

 any future injury, and I never find any trouble with 

 them of that sort at all. 



Again, "T. B. N." wants to know how to mount 

 objects which have been steeped in liquor potassse 

 without the milky look they have when put up after 

 merely washing iu water. If the objects are thick, 

 the best way is to give them a good squeeze between 

 two glasses before washing, then wash in clean hot 

 water to get rid of the potash, and then lay them 

 under pressure between pieces of fine clean blotting- 

 paper till dry ; then wash or soak in turpentine as 

 it may be needful, and mount in thin cold balsam as 

 usual. If your correspondent takes this plan, he 

 will have no further trouble with them.— F.Fletcher, 

 New Street, Wakefield. 



Raphides.— I have never seen any mention made 

 of the effect of Raphides upon the skin. I believe 

 Raspnil says the circular ones are composed of 

 phosphate of lime. If this be so, then their effect 

 on the skin must be owing to their sharp points. 

 Some time ago I was looking at them in the bulb of 

 the hyacinth, and happened to touch my face with 

 my hand. It soon began itching and smarting, and 

 at last swelled up, and looked very much as if it had 

 got erysipelas. The small bodies in the milky juice 

 of the common Euphorbium produce the same kind 

 of irritation, but they have rounded ends. The 

 Raphides iu the fruit of the Bryony are verv lanrc. 

 — F. T. Scott. 



Cahmine for Injections.— Can you tell me how 

 1o prepare the carmine for transparent injections? 

 t have tried carmine diffused in strong ammonia, 

 but find that the gelatine does not set well, and the 

 colour is apt to exude and tinge other parts.— 

 /. B. B. 



