^5° 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



14. M. bombycis (Bechamp), Cohn. 



Microzytna bombycis, Bechamp, 



Cells oval, 5 /a in diameter, single or in chains. 



In the gastric juice and intestine of silk-worms, in 



which they produce the so-called " Schlaffsucht," 



a contagious disease of which the animals die in a 



short time. 



Besides the diseases mentioned, it is probable that many 

 others, e.g., cholera, measles, scarlet fever, typhus, &c , are 

 caused by Schizomycetous fungi.* But no trustworthy obser- 

 vations are yet published concerning them. 



D. — Doubtful Species. 



15. AI. g7iseus {y^z.x'camg). 



Bacterium griseum. Warming. 



Cells almost round or ovate, colourless, 2'5-4 p. 

 long (in the act of division, 6-7 jU long), i'S-2-5 it. 

 thick. 



In infusions of fresh and sea water. 



Since according to Warming this form occurs only in a 

 motionless state (and then forming no zoogloea), and since the 

 cell-form answers better to that of the genus Micrococcus than 

 to that of Bacterium, I have placed it in the former genus. 



16. M. ovatits (Lebert). 



Panhistophyton ovatnm, Lebert. 

 Nosema bombycis, Naegeli. 



Cells oval, about twice as long as broad, rounded 

 at both ends, about 4-5, rarely 6 ix. long, 2-3 (usually 

 2"5)|i broad, isolated or united in pairs or little heaps. 



In various organs of silk-worms, their pupse, and 

 imagos. 



It is questionable whether the described cells belong to a 

 Schizomycete. Theywere first discovered by Cornalia at Milan, 

 and named corpuscules (corposcoli) ; according to him they are 

 found also, although sparingly and more by chance, in the blood 

 of healthy silk-worms. Afterwards, these corpuscules ("cor- 

 puscules de Cornalia ") were recognised as the cause of an epi- 

 demic disease of silk- worms, called "Gattine." 



Since the cells in their form and motionlessness agree very 

 well with Micrococcus, I have ranged them here. 



THE PRESERVATION OF NATURAL 

 HISTORY SPECIMENS. 



Part i. 



IN these papers I intend to give practical instruc- 

 tions in the preservation of natural history 

 specimens. As none can work without tools I will 

 describe first the various preservatives and tools as 

 used in taxidermy. As to preservatives, the one I 

 generally use is of my own invention and is made 

 thus :— No. I. Whiting I lb.. Soft soap f lb.. Salt 

 of Tartar l oz.. Camphor \ oz., Chloride of lime h 

 lb. Boil together the whiting, soft soap, chloride of 

 lime, and tartar in i \ pints of water ; then stir in the 

 camphor which should previously have been dissolved 

 in spirits of wine and set aside to cool. There is 

 another very good preservative soap invented by Mr. 



* To which must now be added leprosy and consump- 

 tion. — Tk. 



Montagu Browne of Leicester, which is made as 

 follows :— No. 2. Whiting or chalk, l^ lb., soft soap, 

 I lb., chloride of lime, 2 oz. The whiting and the 

 soft soap are to be boiled together in a pint of water, 

 then while the mixture is still hot the chloride of 

 lime is to be gradually stirred in.— No. 3. Browne's 

 Preservative Powder. Pure tannin, i oz., camphor, 



1 oz., red pepper, i oz., burnt alum, 8 oz. Pound and 

 thoroughly mix, keep in stoppered bottles. — No. 4. 

 BeccEur's Arsenical Soap. Camphor, 5 oz., salt of 

 tartar, 2 oz., powdered arsenic, 2 lb., powdered chalk, 

 4 oz., white soap, 2 lb. Cut the soap into thin slices, 

 dissolve them in some water over a gentle fire ; when 

 dissolved add the salt of tartar and chalk, take it off 

 the fire, and add the arsenic, and lastly add the 

 camphor which should be dissolved in spirits of wine. 

 —No. 5. Bottling solution. Water, 2 qts., saltpetre, 



2 oz., spirits of wine, i pt., corrosive sublimate, i dr., 

 sal ammoniac, oz., glycerine, 2 oz. 



Having now shown how to make the different 

 preservatives used in taxidermy, I will proceed to 

 describe the tools. The most indispensable tool is 

 the knife. These are best bought at the leather- 

 seller's, and should be about four inches long in the 

 blade. The next article is the scissors, which should 

 be about four inches in length. I think that it is also 

 advisable to have another pair for severing the joints 

 of large birds and animals, and for cutting up tow. 

 This pair should be about seven inches in length. A 

 strong pair of cutting pliers are indispensable for 

 cutting the wire used in making the body. A few 

 bradawls of different sizes will be found useful for 

 piercing the branches on which birds are to be 

 mounted. 



Wires. — These are indispensable for forming the 

 body of the bird, &c. I will mention a few sizes 

 required for different birds. No. i. Huinming Birds, 

 Wrens, &c. No. 2. Robin, Bullfinch, Sparrow, &c. 

 No. 3. Starling, Thrush &c. No. 4. Jay, Jackdaw, &c. 

 No. 5. Crow, Magpie, &c. No. 6. Raven, Buzzard, &c. 

 No. 7. Pheasant, Grouse, Fox, &c. No. 8. Gannet, 

 Goose, Swan, Badger, Northern Diver, &c. 



Having been supplied with these necessities, we 

 will now commence with the preservation of birds. 



Skinning and Preserving. — Take a piece of news- 

 paper and lay the bird on its back, take some 

 wadding and a piece of wire, fill up the nostrils and 

 the ears if the bird is a large one. Having done 

 this break the bone of the wing as close to the body 

 as possible. Next twist the legs off near the second 

 joint. Having done this part the feathers up from 

 the vent to the breast bone, then cut the skin with 

 the knife beginning at the sternum or breast bone 

 and proceeding downwards towards the vent. Now 

 taking hold of the bird gently part away the skin 

 until you come to the thighs, which you sever from 

 the body (if you have not done this before). Now 

 cut the vertebrae through at the end of the body 

 and begin to skin carefully with the thumb and 



