Queries and Answers. 473 



Cheap Preparation of Anatomical Specimens. — Sir, In Vol. III. p. 92. I 

 find a query as to a cheap and efficacious mode of putting up anatomical 

 preparations. Perhaps the following, for which my father obtained, in 

 1819, the silver medal of the Society of Arts, and which has stood the test 

 of fifteen years, may answer the wishes of your correspondent. 



Make a saturated solution of muriate of soda (common salt) in clear 

 water, and filter through blotting-paper. Let the specimens to be preserved 

 macerate, as usual, a few days in water, frequently changed, to cleanse them 

 from blood. Then let them remain four or five days in some of the solution, 

 and it will be advisable to put in with them some salt, tied up in a linen bag. 

 Your readers will at once perceive the importance of this second mace- 

 ration, as the large quantity of water which would otherwise be left in the 

 specimens would destroy the saturation so essential to success. In putting 

 up, the only thing necessary to be observed is that it is better to avoid 

 the use of lead. The best mode of closing is with glass, cemented over 

 the mouths of the bottles with rosin, or a mixture of rosin and oil. Some 

 specimens will be found to float, even after the second maceration, and 

 should be sunk by pieces of glass, which may often be made useful, by 

 extending or exposing any parts required to be seen. A few drops of 

 water may be added to the solution ; say a drachm to a pint ; otherwise the 

 least evaporation will provoke crystallisation. Glass floats, for ascertaining 

 the point of saturation, may be obtained of any instrument-maker. It only 

 remains to add, that specimens thus treated in general retain their natural 

 colours better than in spirits, and that some agarics have thus been pre- 

 served with such success as to warrant a repetition of the experiment. 

 A more detailed account may be found in the Transactions of the Sodety 

 of Arts for the year 1819. I am. Sir, yours, &c. — W. C.jun. Tnnity Square^ 

 Tower Hilly London^ July 1. 1831. 



Whirls of the Tumbler Pigeon. — Sir, If Mr. Swainson, or any of the 

 learned contributors to your Magazine, will condescend to give a satisfac- 

 tory reason for the instinct pecuhar to the tumbler pigeon, it would be a 

 great rehef to my mind ; as it is a subject with regard to which I can 

 come to no satisfactory conclusion. Buffbn attributes the movement to 

 vertigoes, arising from domestication ; but Temminck, though he does not 

 risk an opinion about it, gives an account of a wild species of tumbler 

 (Columba arquatrix), that amuses itself in the air with a sort of movement 

 somewhat resembling the one alluded to. I therefore cannot imagine that 

 BufFon, who was unacquainted with the wild species, has solved the riddle ; 

 especially as I am convinced that in both species it is a movement indicative 

 of pleasure. I shall anxiously wait for a reply to my enquiry in your next 

 Number. I am. Sir, yours, &c. — A Subscriber. Southampton, May 12. 1831. 

 Goldfinch losing its Note. — Sir, Having placed a canary within sight of 

 a goldfinch, I found some time after that the canary began gradually to 

 lose its note, and at last ceased altogether. It now endeavours to imitate 

 the note of the goldfinch. Information on the reason, and the means I 

 should adopt for the restoration (if possible) of its note, would oblige — 

 A. Z. Lo?idon, June SO. IS31. 



In Bird-stiifflngy-wh-dt book of instructions is best, and cheapest? — H. T. 

 Rennie's Ornithological Dictionary seems silent on this subject. -— 

 J.D. 



The Tree Creeper (Certhiafamilich'is). — Sir, I saw this little bird on the 

 6th of January last, but always looking upon it as migratory, I thought I 

 might have been mistaken, especially as Pennant says it migrates into Italy 

 during our winter. In order to satisfy myself of its identity, or to convince 

 myself of my mistake, I kept a daily look out, and had the satisfaction of 

 seeing it again on the 14th, not far from the spot where I saw it on the 6th. 

 It was running rapidly round the bole of an oak tree, apparently in search 

 of insects. I approached sufficiently neai- to feel certain that I was not 



