S6 FIELD ORNITHOLOGY part i 



is on the whole the most eligible substance to use when a collection 

 is constantly handled. Camphor is a A^aluable agent. Small 

 fragments may be strewn about the drawers, or a lump pinned in 

 mosquito netting in a corner. Benzine is also very useful. A 

 small saucerful may be kept evaporating, or the liquid may be 

 sprinkled — even poured — directly over the skins ; it is very volatile 

 and leaves little or no stain. It is, however, obviously ineligible 

 when a collection is in constant use. My friend Mr. Allen informs 

 me he has used sulphide of carbon with great success. The 

 objection to this agent is, that it is a stinking poison ; should be 

 used in the open air, to escape the ineftably disgusting and dele- 

 terious odours, and its employment is properly restricted to cases for 

 storage. When the bill or feet show they are attacked, further 

 depredation may be prevented by pencilling with a strong solution 

 of corrosive sublimate ; a Aveaker solution, one that leaves no white 

 film, on drying, on a black feather, may even be brushed over the 

 whole plumage. Mr. Ridgway tells me that oil of bitter almonds 

 is equally efficacious. But remember that these poisons must be 

 used Avith care. Specimens may be buried in coarse refuse tobacco 

 leaves. One or another of these lines of defence will commonly 

 prove successful in destroying or driving off mature insects, and 

 even in stopping the ravages of the larva3 ; but I doubt that any 

 such means will kill the eggs. With these Ave must deal otherwise ; 

 and their destruction no less than that of their parents is assured, 

 if Ave subject them to a high temperature. Baking birdskins is 

 really the only process that can make us feel perfectly safe. 

 Infected specimens, along Avith suspected ones, should be subjected 

 to a dry heat, from 212° F. up to any degree short of singeing the 

 plumage. This is readily done by putting the birds in a wooden 

 tray in any oven — they must hoAvever be Avatched, unless you have 

 special contrivances for regulating the temperature. Hoav long a 

 time is required is probably not ascertained Avith precision ; it Avill 

 be well to bake for several hours. When the beetles and larvae are 

 found completely parched, it may be confidently believed that the 

 unseen eggs are out of the hatching Avay for ever. 



Arsenic helps to keep out the bugs, besides preventing decay — a 

 fact that should never be forgotten, and that should give sharper edge 

 to my advice respecting lavish use of the substance at the outset. If 

 it be true, as some state, that bugs can eat arsenic without dying, 

 it is also true that they do not relish it ; and in entering a case of 

 skins they Avill burrow by preference in those holding the least of it. 

 This fact is continually exhibited in large collections, Avhere if two 

 birds be side by side, one being duly arsenicised and the other not 

 so, one Avill be taken and the other left. It is also a fact in the 

 natural history of these our pests, that thej^ are fond of peace and 



