2 
as they fall to pieces after some time. Corrosive sublimate is 
frequently recommended as a preservative, but skins so prepared 
become exceedingly brittle, and after a lapse of years scarcely bear 
handling, ultimately falling to pieces. Arsenical soap is undoubtedly 
the best preservative for bird-skins. 
Fine bleached cotton-wool is necessary for the filling in of the 
eye-sockets of the specimens. Nothing conduces more to the neat 
appearance of a properly prepared skin of a bird than the aspect of 
the bead and eyes. For small birds there is nothing better than 
cotton-wool for the filling out of the skin. Ordinary cotton-wadding 
is also useful for wrapping round the skins after they have been 
made up. It helps to keep the skin in good shape and to dry it 
quickly. 
Tow is useful for filling out skins of larger birds; and, if possible, 
the neck should always be made of tow, instead of wool, for, if the 
specimen should ever be required for mounting, the wires of the 
taxidermist can easily be worked through a neck made of tow, 
whereas wool is impervious. 
Fine white sawdust should always be handy for sprinkling on the 
body of the bird while it is being skinned, and some plaster of Paris 
is an almost indispensable adjunct in skinning wading and swimming 
birds, which are often covered with fat. As, however. these materials 
cannot always be procured in the tropics, dry sand may be used as a 
substitute, and, in an emergency, tobacco-ash, or even dry earth, 
can be made available. Care must be taken to prevent the edges 
of the feathers becoming soiled by contact with the body of the bird 
as it is being taken out. Little wisps of cotton-wool should be at 
hand, to interpose along the base of the feathers while the skin is 
removed, as they serve to keep the feathers back and to prevent them. 
touching the flesh of the body. With a little practice the collector 
will find that he knows instinctively what feathers will be affected 
by his action as he removes the skin from the different parts of 
the bedy, and his fingers will naturally intervene between the 
feathers and the flesh. 
COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS. 
The subjoined directions refer specially to the preparation of 
skins of birds not larger than a Thrush. 
The collector should begin operations by seeing that all his 
necessary appliances are at hand—fine white sawdust, or dry sand, 
tow, wool, nail-scissors, and knife. Some taxidermists begin by 
plugging the nostrils. This should be avoided, if possible, as 
the shape of the nostrils and their adjacent parts should be 
left undisturbed. Many genera of birds are characterized by the 
shape of the nostrils and their bristles, and every care should be 
