ARSENICAL SOLUTION. 95 



Instruments and Materials : — The instruments needed in preserv- 

 ing birds are comparatively very few ; although a great many 

 more than I here suggest can be added They are as follows : 

 One pair of flat-nosed plyers ; a pair of cutting plyers ; a pair of 

 tweezers ; a scalpel ; a flat file ; needles and thread ; and a stiff brush. 

 The materials are: annealed wire of diff"erent sizes; cotton, tow, 

 hemp and fine grass ; fine soft thread from the cotton-factories 

 is also needed. This is wound on what are called "bobbins ;" it is 

 used in the manufacture of cloth, and is the best article for winding 

 a freshly-mounted bird. When this cannot be had the best substi- 

 tute is shoemaker's hemp thread. 



Arsenical Solution: — Common dry arsenic or arsenical soap are the 

 two articles almost universally used for preserving skins. It is a 

 well known fact that arsenic in the form of a powder is very inju- 

 urious to the health. Furthermore, the common dry powered ar- 

 senic that is usually sold at the apothecary shops is of such an 

 inferior quality — rendered so by adulteration — that its effects as a 

 preservative is of little consequence, and dry arsenic, no matter 

 how pure, has not the penetrating powers as something of a simi- 

 lar nature in a liquid form. T therefore introduce a new Arsenical 

 Solution which is the most powerful and effectual preservative 

 known to science. It can be applied to the skin of both birds and 

 mammals in various ways with the most gratifying results, which 

 will be given hereafter in detail, and ^vhile the principal ingre- 

 dient of this Solution is pure crystallized arsenic it is not injurious 

 to the health, as is the dry pulverized arsenic, which is poisonous 

 from its being inhaled while dusting it on skins. It is made as 

 follows : Take one pound of Crystallized Arsenic and one-half 

 pound of Bicarbonate of Soda, add to this five pints of water; boil 

 the whole down to three pints over a slow fire — stirring frequently 

 to prevent the arsenic and soda settling to the bottom. It is a 

 good idea to first break the large pieces of arsenic in order that 

 they may quickly dissolve. When cold it is ready for use. By 

 mixing a quantity of Spanish Whiting with a small amount of the 

 liquid until it forms a very thin paste, it is now ready to be applied 

 to skins by the use of a brush. This makes a most substantial 



