6 



RANDOM NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



the skin that when softened again, one is 

 rarely aware of its previous poor condition. 

 During spells of wet weather the latter cur- 

 ative will be found much the best, for skins 

 often spoil if too long in drying. The skins 

 prepared in park with alum always set firmer, 

 and are less susceptible of bending than 

 those cured by either arsenic, or arsenical 

 soap. This also is an advantage with 

 mounted birds, as they are wanted in the 

 exact jjositions in which placed. 



An arsenic cured skin breaks from weak- 

 ness more often than an arsenic and alum 

 poisoned one does from brittleness. While 

 I would give clear arsenic 7io preference in 

 any case, another valuable preparation de- 

 mands attention — arsenical soap. In mak- 

 ing skins the use of soap is tedious, for it 

 is slimy stuff, and the inside of a skin has to 

 be thoroughly painted with it. A skin 

 cured with soap is neither tender nor brittle, 

 but will stand more rough usage than if 

 cured b}' either of the preceding methods. 

 Its great disadvantage is the length of time 

 required before the specimens are dry, 

 though this propert^^ can often be turned to 

 good use, for a fairly large bird may be 

 poisoned with soap, and after being turned 

 back, it ma}^ be allowed to lie for three to 

 five days without any wet covering, and 

 then mounted as if freshly skinned, 1 would 

 advise painting the bills and feet of birds 

 with soap as a preventive for dermestes. 

 Laj^ some cotton beneath the feet to pre- 

 vent the soap soiling the tail feathers. For 

 mammals I would advise the use of soap 

 almost entirely. 



Use all poisons with caution, and do not 

 leave the dr}- powder standing around un- 

 covered, as its inhalation is a decided in- 

 jury. If it is used with recMess impunity 

 it will sooner or later show its evil effects. 



COLOR OF BIRrS' EYES. 



Mocking-bird, yellow. 

 Brown Thrasher, straw. 

 Ground Titmouse, white. 

 Least Titmouse, white. 

 Red-eyed Vireo, red. 

 White-eyed Vireo, white. 

 Che wink, red. 



Spurred Towhee, reddish brown. 

 Brewer's Blackbird, white. 

 Rusty Blackbird, straw. 



White-headed Woodpecker, red. 

 Red-shafted Woodpecker, red. 

 California Woodpecker, white. 

 Barn Owl, nearly black. 

 Long-eared Owl, 3ellow. 

 Short-eared Owl, yellow. 

 Barred Owl, nearly- black. 

 Great Gray Owl, straw. 

 Richardson's Owl, sti-aw. 

 Saw Whet Owl, yellow. 

 Little Screech Owl, straw. 

 California Screech Owl, yellow. 

 Great Horned Owl, straw, 3'ellow. 

 Burrowing Owl, yellow. 

 California Pigm^' Owl, yellow. 



We are pleased to learn that the second 

 volume of the Transactions of the LinncBan 

 Society of Neiv York is now in press, and 

 soon to appear. It is to contain, among 

 other matter, the continuation of Dr. C. 

 Hart Merriam's Vertebrates of the Adiron- 

 dack Region, being the conclusion of his 

 treatment of the mammalia. That part in- 

 cluded in the first volume is one of the most 

 interesting contributions to natural history 

 literature ever published. Even the un- 

 scientific reader is absorbed from the be- 

 ginning, and sure to devour ever}' word. 

 Dr. Merriam has the power to create in- 

 tense interest in the general reader, and we 

 sincerel}' hope to see others aid in arousing 

 a widespread interest in science by similar 

 popular-scientific articles. 



The second volume is promised to be 

 equal to the first, and, like it, typographic- 

 ally elegant. 



Mrs. Sarah E. BoNNEY,of Sterling,Mass., 

 died March 3, 1884. She was one of the best 

 taxidermists of her sex, possessed much orig- 

 inality, and was ver}^ popular. Mrs. Bonney 

 and Mrs. Maxwell awakened far more inter- 

 est at our Centennial Exhibition than their 

 male competitors. 



If there is any truth in the doctrine of 

 evolution, the future residents of the Ohio 

 valley will have web feet. — Chicago Times. 



It isn't a great wa}' to the end of a cat's 

 nose, but it's fur to the end of its tail. 



The riches which always take to them- 

 selves win^s — Ost-riches. 



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