ii APPENDIX. 



no doubt be done with arsenical soap and a sharp pocket-knife only, and in many countries soft di-y moss 

 or lichen is so abundant as to obviate the necessity of carrying stuffing of any kind. But, if possible, the 

 tyro should learn his work in a civilised country, and defer adventuring himself to the " shifts and expedients 

 of camp life" until he is a past master in the art. 



A word or two is necessary with regard to arsenical soap. As a rule it can be procured at almost any 

 birdstuffer's, but it is by no means always of good quality. The following is the best recipe for its 

 lireparation : — 



White Soap U ». 



Arsenic 1 lb. 



Salts of Tartar 8 oz. 



Camphor 4 oz. 



Powdered Chalk 2 oz. 



Shred the soap very fine into a pot, and add as little water as is necessary to dissolve it, stirring 

 gently over a slow fire. When well dissolved add the chalk and salts of tartar, and mis thoroughly. 

 Take it off the fire, and add the arsenic slowly, stirring meanwhile. Pound the camphor in a mortar with 

 spirits of wine, add, and mix the whole thoroughly. It should then be poured into small tins, and left to 

 set. In using, it should be worked up into a good lather before applying it to the skin. 



Most birds, if not quite dead on being picked up, can be killed by compression of the thorax laterally ; 

 the thumb and fingers being placed on opposite sides of the breast immediately beneath the wings. But 

 this plan will not answer for very large birds, which are often very tenacious of life. The best method of 

 procedure in these cases is to sever the spinal cord immediately behind the brain with a sharp penknife, 

 but it is an operation requiring a certain amount of anatomical knowledge and skill, in the absence of 

 which pressure with the knee on the breast-bone is the best substitute. The bird having been killed, the 

 colour of the kis, legs, beak, and cere (if present) should be noted, as these parts often fade with great 

 rapidity after death. Wool should be stuffed tightly down the throat, and the nostrils and all shot-wounds 

 that seem likely to bleed should also be plugged with the same material. The bird should then be carefully 

 wrapped in a handkerchief or towel, or hung by the beak upon the collecting-stick. On reaching home the 

 specimens should be hung up in some cool place, and carefully guarded from all possible injury by cats, 

 ants, flies, and other enemies of the ornithologist. Too great stress cannot be laid upon the exercise of 

 caution in this respect in tropical climates, for, in countries where the white ant is abundant, an hour or 

 two is quite sufficient for the conversion of one's most valuable specimens into skeletons. 



We will presume these dangers to have been successfully avoided, and the tyro to be seated at his 

 table anxious to commence on his first subject. His first proceeding will be to measure its length from the 

 beak to the tip of the tail, it being no longer stiff from rigor mortis, which has hitherto rendered that 

 operation difficult. The nostrils and throat should then be re-plugged with cotton-wool, and the ears and 

 vent likewise, a precaution which, if neglected, very often results in the complete ruin of the skin. Many 

 specimens will have their feathers more or less soiled with blood, which is especially noticeable in the 

 Gulls and Albatrosses, and other sea-birds in which the plumage is for the most part white. These should 

 be cleaned with a sponge and hot water, the sponge being constantly squeezed out, and only used in the 

 direction of the feathers. The operator must not be disheartened by the bedrabbled appearance thus 

 produced, although he should use his sponge as dry as he can, but should persevere until the plumage 

 becomes fairly clean. He then takes a couple of the wire skewers between the thumb and finger of his 

 right hand, and scatters plenty of plaster of Paris on the spot from time to time with his left, beating 

 meanwhile most energetically with the skewers. This should be no leisurely operation, or the tyro will find 

 the feathers set together in a solid block ; but if properly carried out, and the beating kept up without 

 intermission and as rapidly as possible for ten minutes or so, the plumage, on being shaken free from the 



