BIOLOGY. 303 



PREPARATION OF BIRDS AND SMALL ANIMALS FOR THE CABINET. 



H. W. Parker communicates to the "American Journal of Sci- 

 ence and Arts " the following, upon the use of carbolic acid in the 

 preparation of cabinet specimens : 



" The following methods, carefully studied for two years, with 

 results noted, are recommended for the saving of birds in warm 

 weather until the operator finds time to skin them ; for the perma- 

 nent preparation of drawer specimens, where the student needs a 

 .large series of individuals to determine the variations and limits 

 of species ; and for mounting small birds, at least as temporary 

 representatives, when neither the time nor the expense involved 

 in the old methods can be afforded. 



" The viscera are removed, to effect which neatly the legs are 

 pinned widely apart, and a paper several times folded is pinned 

 over the tail in the direction whither the viscera are drawn out. 

 With proper care, the sex is readily observed. A wad of cotton 

 absorbs the fluids remaining in the cavity. The leg is then grasped 

 close to the body, and a knife or wire is introduced into the cavity 

 and run down into the flesh of the leg, working the instrument 

 around, but not so as to break the skin. For a small bird, 5 to 10 

 drops of the commercial fluid preparation of carbolic acid is made 

 to anoint the whole interior, and to penetrate the leg by stretching 

 and relaxing the same in proper position. The application is re- 

 peated after the first drops are absorbed ; and a wad of cotton, 

 wet with the acid, may be left close under the breastbone next to 

 the neck. The cavity is then filled with cotton and the skin drawn 

 back into place. The inside of the mouth is well anointed, and a 

 saturated wad of cotton pushed down the whole length of the 

 neck. The eyes are removed by a hooked wire inserted into the 

 ball, the head being so held that the humors of the eye will drop 

 without soiling the lids. The moist lids are left as open as pos- 

 sible, and the specimen placed in a cool cellar to the next day, 

 when the lids are dry enough to take their open shape. Then a 

 nail is inserted through the lids and pushed through the bone at 

 the back part of the orbit into the brain, and so worked as to make 

 a good opening. A tightly rolled bit of cotton, saturated with the 

 acid, is pushed into the brain and worked around in it, care being 

 taken not to wet the eyelids. If by chance the feathers are wet, 

 the acid can be removed by powdered chalk, repeatedly applied. 



" Specimens so prepared in warm weather can be skinned a week 

 or two after, if kept boxed in a cellar. No smell of decomposition 

 is observed ; the acid gradually and completely penetrates the 

 pectoral muscles ; the skin is strong and the feathers not loosened. 



"For permanent preparation, the skin should be laid open from, 

 the abdomen to the neck, the pectoral muscles removed and re- 

 placed by cotton, and the incision sewed up. The throat, neck, 

 and orbits are also filled with cotton. The specimen should then 

 be suitably arranged, encircled by a slip of paper, and placed on 

 a bed of cotton. Before this, the flesh of the wings should be laid 

 open and arsenic applied in the usual manner. 



"For mounting it only needs to run one wire through the foot, 



