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Meeting held iu the Lecture Theatre of the Medical School, Park 

 Street, February 18th, 1889. Professor De Burgh Birch, M.D., CM., 

 F.R.S.E., President, in the chair. 



DEMONSTRATION ON METHODS OF APPLYING CHEMICAL RE-AGENTS TO 



OBJECTS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE. 



PROFESSOR BIRCH. 



The methods of applying re-agents in the examination of microscopic 

 objects were first of all described. The following substances were then 

 examined iu the Laboratory — starch grains from wheat, cotton and linen 

 fibres, and uric acid. 



Meeting held in Eoom 80, Municipal Buildings, February 25th, 1889. 

 J. Charters Birch, L.D.S., in the chair. 



DEMONSTRATION OF TAXIDERMY. 

 EDGAR R. WAITE. 



The word Taxidermy is derived from two Greek words, signifying the 

 arrangement of skins. It has, however, a much wider significance, and 

 embraces the preservation of natural history objects in general. Among 

 the ancient Egyptians it was extensively jiractised, as shown by the 

 mummies of human bodies, birds, cats, and other animals to be seen in 

 the miLseums. A mummy of the sacred Ibis and young Crocodile, 

 together with some excellent photographs of mummies of distinguished 

 rulers (Seti I., Prince Djet, &c.) were exhibited, and some remarks made 

 on the preparation of mummies by the ancients. Taxidermy, as practised 

 at the present day, was then introduced, and a bird was chosen as the 

 subject of the demonstration. 



No very elaborate or expensive instruments are required in order to 

 skin a bird, and the only tools used by Mr. Waite were a penknife and a 

 pair of ordinary scissoi-s. 



A Eook was selected to illustrate the process, a bird of this kind having 

 not a few features of advantage for such a demonstration, <i.g , being of 

 moderate size and having a tough skin. Several ways of skinning a bird 

 were mentioned — on the breast, the abdomen, the back, and under the 

 wing. The plan of skinning a bird on the breast is the easiest and at the 

 same time the most generally practised, but is open to several objections, 

 not the least being that of the fatty matter making its way through the 

 incision and soiling the feathers. This is more especially the case with 

 water-birds, where a layer of fat usually intervenes between the skin and 

 the flesh. 



The method advocated and practised by Mr. Waite was that of skinning 

 under the wing. The incision was easily concealed and there was no danger 

 of the oily matter soiling the plumage. It was admitted that of all 

 methods this was perhaps the most difficult, but it was undoubtedly found 

 to give the most satisfactory results. Corrosive sublimate in alcohol 

 was recommended as a preservative, and naphthaline as an insect deterrent. 



