134 THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
commingled into one great fauna, which has 
called the especiul attention of the geographical 
naturalists fora number of years in solving, 
and they are nowhere complete as yet. 
«« Another important factor,” says Dr,A.R. 
Wallace, in his /s/and Life, page 73, connect- 
ed in this field of investigation, ‘‘is the imm- 
ense antiquity of insects, and the longpersistence 
of many of the best marked types. ” 
The rich insect fauna of the Miocene period 
in Switzerland, consisting largely of genera still 
inhabiting Europe, and toa considerable extent 
identical, or almost so, with living species. 
Out of 156 genera of Swiss fossil beeties, no 
less, than 114 are still living; and the general 
character of the species is like that of the exist- 
ing fauna of the southern hemisphere in a some 
what more southern latitude. 
Well mayIask: What existing forms have 
we today, likely to give us a fiint resemblance 
of a once tropical insect fauna spread over the 
earth’s surface, before the cooling process had 
set in? 
Such questions as these present themselves 
to us when studying out such problems. 
These subjects will have to be left for some 
future time, also will I devote a paper to the 
subject of ‘‘Paloe-Entomolog) *which comes in 
direct harmony with the study of the distribu- 
tion of insects. ‘ 
Drawing the line of comparison with such a 
marked degree of certainty as Dr. Wallace does 
all through his delightful work, the reader, 
wheu he has done with its perusal will have 
gained many important points that are laid 
down in these practical lessons. 
It is hoped that the student will follow as 
close as he can the line of investigation as is 
outlined by Dr. Wallace. 
A.S.VAN WINKLE. 
TAXIDERMY. 
HOW TO EMBALM 
These receipts are the ones generally soll 
and used by the persons who have done the 
most presentable work embalming, which at the 
best isa very poor substituta for skinning and 
properly poisoning and mounting. Any method 
of embalming will be found to be very unsat- 
isfactory,and not to be recommended. 
*Receipt for embalming birds and small 
animals. 
Nux Vomica, I drachm, 
Alum, 6 ounces, 
Arsenic, 13, os 
Gum camphor, Di 0 
Sal ammoniac, 19 dractims. * 
Calomel, Plas Ht: 
Chloride of zinc, Salat 
Chloride of sodium, (salt.) 3 ounces, 
Pulverize each separately and mix by passing 
through a fine sieve. 
For small birds take out the entrails,and fill 
with the powder. 
For larger birds remove the skin, powder it 
and the carcass well, replace in skin, place the 
specimen in the position desired, while itis green, 
Be VWVe ices 
The next receipt is evilentiy the Wickershei- 
tie it and allow it to.dry. 
mer solution worked over. 
‘© FOR MAMMALS 
White arsenic, 2 ounces. 
Carbonate of potash, 34 ounce. 
Salt—petre, 3% ounce. 
Sulphate of potash, I ounce. 
Fine salt, 3 pounds. 
Borax, 2 ounces, 
Dissolve in 17 pints of hot water, add one 
pint of glycerine, and and after the solution has 
become cold add seven pints of alcohol, 
Remove tne eyes and entrails, substituting 
cotton therefor and place the specimen in the 
liquid, allowing if to remiin for several days. 
Then take specimen out of the solution, tie 
in position and dry. WEB Ma 
The next receipt and method has been proved 
to be the best. 
Birds embalmed with this powder, more than 
twelve years ago, are now ina good state of 
preservation. 
Mix intimately, 
One pound of powdered alum. 
One pound of powdered arsenic, 
Three pounds of fine salt. 
Four ounces of corrosive sublimate. 
