lonbom |lotc0 on latural |i0tort). 



Vol. 1. 



PROVIDENCE, FEBRUARY 2, 1884. 



Entered at the Providence Post-Offiee as Second-Class Matter. 



No. II. 



T|aitbom f oigs on f atiiral f istorij. 



A Monthly Devoted to the Distribution of Use- 

 ful, Knowledge Concerning the Various De- 

 partments OF Zoology, Mineralogy, and 

 Botany. 50 Cents a Year. 

 Address all communications to 



SOUTHWICK & JENCKS, 

 258 Westminster St., Providence, R. I., U. S. A. 



VALUE OF STEAM IN TAXIDERMY. 



Steam is generally used to soften the wings 

 of bii'ds so they can be spread, or the feet 

 that the}' may be opened or closed. The 

 positions of various pcjjtions of dried skins 

 or mounted specimens, ma}', to a limited 

 extent, be changed by its use. For all of 

 the above uses it is valuable, insomuch as 

 it saves time. The steam does its work 

 quickly, but a few seconds' exposure being 

 necessary ; while the slower method of wet 

 cotton, cloths, or sand, requires several hours, 

 according to the nature of the specimens. 

 Another advantage in favor of the former 

 is, that while the latter keeps the specimens 

 soft for a considerable time, steam dries 

 away almost immediateh'. 



if is also very valuable for restoring 

 crumpled or bent feathers (not broken) to 

 their original shape, though it will not in- 

 terlace the webs if parted. Many taxider- 

 mists have doubtless tried steaming skins 

 they intended to mount, but such as we 

 have heard from were not pleased at the 

 result. 



The fact that steam will shrink skin may 

 not be new, but we think its practical use 

 in Taxidermy has but recently been dis- 

 covered, and Mr. G. M. Gray, in our em- 

 ploy, has that honor. It was a purely ac- 

 cidental discovery, but, like many others, 

 will come under — " necessity is the mother 

 of invention." The facts of the case are as 

 follows : We had mounted a small black 

 and tan dog, the skin of which stretched so 

 badly that we stuffed it a trifle too full, to 

 dispose of the wrinkles. The owner was 

 not satisfied, and wanted it made smaller. 

 We agreed to do what we could to remedy 



the trouble, and turned the job over to Mr. 

 Gray. He tried every conceivable way to 

 make it smaller, but all to no purpose. 

 The tea-kettle was steaming merrily, and 

 as a last resort, he thrust the dog into the 

 volume of steam pouring from the nose, 

 then rubbed it down with his hand. After 

 doing this a few times, to his surprise and 

 pleasure, he saw the much desired object 

 was being obtained, and a few moments 

 later had the satisfaction of seeing the dog 

 reduced all over to the required size. The 

 owner also, was pleased. 



We next experimented on a Roseate 

 Spoonbill which had been mounted for five 

 years, and of which the naked throat was 

 badly wrinkled. This also was a success. 



Still another trial was made on a rattle- 

 snake, that had the skin so badly distended 

 in places that some parts had to be filled 

 much too full. These parts were worked 

 down to be uniform with the rest. The 

 snake was next coiled, and all of the kinks 

 steamed out. 



Since then we have made use of steam 

 constantly, and keep the kettle ready to 

 boil at nearly all times. We should be 

 pleased to hear the results of experiments 

 by others. 



COLOR OF BIRDS' EYES. 



If these observations differ from those of 

 others, we shall be pleased to hear from 

 them. 



Black-backed Gull, adult, straw ;* skin 

 around eye, bright orange. 



Herring Gull, adult, straw; young, hazel.* 



Night Heron, adult, red ; young, brown. 



Snowy Heron, straw. 



American Egret, straw. 



Louisiana Heron, red. 



Bittern, 3'ellow.* 



Little Blue Heron, adult, gray. 



Great Blue Heron, straw. 



*It is rather unfortunate that the colors of artificial 

 e.ves are in some cases mis-named. Hazel is the very 

 dark, almost black, eye that most birds possess. Straw, 

 the clear light yellow. Yellow, the deep color inclining 

 to orans:e. If parties ordering will bear these points 

 in mind, much confusion will be saved. 



