I02 RENDERING FEATHERS INSECT PROOF. 



patience. If the inside is greasy sprinkle freely with plaster of 

 paris and scrape with a blunt knife, removing the plaster from time 

 to time so as to thoroughly absorb the grease I have removed 

 grease from the inside of very fat skins by the application of hot 

 sand — using the white sea sand, and applying it abundantly in the 

 manner of the plaster and scraping with a blunt knife. When a 

 bird's feathers are greasy wash the greasy place freely with spirits 

 of turpentine, and then pour on plaster, replacing it with fresh as 

 soon as it has become saturated with the turpentine, at the same 

 time brushing and moving the feathers in order that the plasier 

 may penetrate. This is the best method I know of for removing 

 grease and dirt from feathers. 



Rendering Feathers Insect Proof: — Ye.w collectors or taxidermists 

 ever think of \.\\Qgreat importance of having the feathers of their 

 birds protected against the ravages of insects — Dej-mestes, etc., 

 except by the use of some insecticide such as camphor, insect pow- 

 der or benzine — none of which are permanent. To this end I 

 will give a very simple remedy which, once applied to the 

 feathers will do for all time, and will save the collector of the un- 

 easy thought that his specimens are liable to be destroyed by the 

 ravages of these well known pests. Take any quantity of water, 

 one-fourth of which should be the Arsenical Solution in the liquid 

 form^ given on page 95. Take a quantity of white sea sand and 

 thoroughly saturate it with this weakened Solution ; now bury the 

 bird skin in it from twelve to twenty-four hours. At the end 

 of this time the feathers will be sufficiently poisoned. This liquid 

 can be made as strong as desired by adding more of the Arsenical 

 Solution, but it should be tested with a black feather to see that it 

 is not too strong of the Solution, and if too strong it will discolor 

 the feather. 



Hoiu to Soften Dry Skins: — There are many ways in which a dried 

 bird skin may be softened and made ready to mount, and nearly 

 every taxidermist has his own method. I consider the following 

 method the simplest, easiest and most effective : 



The skin should be opened and the filling from the body, neck 

 and head removed. Tear some cotton cloth into strips from an 

 inch to two inches in width, wet them thoroughly in warm water 



