348 TAXIDERMY AND ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



then dip a rag in boiled linseed-oil and apply it to the cleaned 

 surface. The varnish cutter acts almost instantly, and if left on 

 too long 1 the surface of a painting might be injured. 



To Prevent Mould in Boxes of Specimens. Take some carbolic- 

 acid crystals (forty cents per pound), melt them in the sun, and 

 with the resulting liquid acid paint the entire inside of each 

 box, and, if possible, pack contents with naphthaline crystals. 

 This is efficacious in boxes of small skins of birds and mam- 

 mals, of insects and the like, even in hot climates, but of course 

 does not apply to boxes of large specimens which contain a 

 great amount of moisture. 



To Polish Hard Wood. 1st. Rub the surface thoroughly 

 with raw linseed-oil, turpentine, and powdered pumice-stone. 

 2d. Give the surface a smooth coat of shellac. 3d. When dry, 

 take fine sand-paper and go over it rather lig-htly. 4th. Give 

 the surface a good coat of hard oil finish (a white varnish), and 

 let it harden. 5th. When quite dry rub down with raw oil, 

 turpentine, and pumice-stone, to soften the gloss of the var- 

 nish, and give a polish instead. For rubbing, use a piece of 

 hair-cloth, or clean burlaps. 



Cement for Gumming Labels to Minerals and Shells. ' Pulver- 

 ized gum Arabic, 4 ounces ; pulverized white sugar, 2 ounces ; 

 starch, 4 drachms. 



Dissolve all separately in as little water as convenient. Dis- 

 solve starch in cold water, then stir it into sugar water, and 

 then that mixture into the gum water. Boil with great care, as 

 burning will spoil the whole. It is well to use a tin vessel 

 raised from the bottom of another vessel containing water. 

 After the starch ceases to make the mixture look milky it is 

 cooked, but at least an hour's time will be required. Keep in 

 large mouthed, tightly corked bottles, or when done pour into 

 a tray covered with strong paper, spreading it evenly over the 

 paper, and allow it to dry. When dry enough, moisten back 

 of paper and remove it from the gum, dry again thoroughly, 

 break into fragments and preserve for use in wide-mouth stop- 

 pered jar." (Southwick & Jenck's " Random Notes.") 



Arsenic Water (for poisoning mammal skins, etc). Water, 4 

 quarts ; arsenic, 4 ounces. Mix, stir and boil until the arsenic 

 is all taken up. 



