164 Lloyd, Extraction of Fat from Bird-Skins. [ April 



They were dry and hard, but after wetting them I gave him all 

 he wanted, which was as much as a large tablespoonful. That 

 was unwise, but he was voracious. Next morning, Aug. 6, he 

 was only slightly more inert than usual, but could scarcely swallow 

 a cabbage worm. When given a little juice from blackberries, 

 much to my surprise, he lay over on his side, and died. — And he 

 had never opened his eyes on the troubles of this world. 



THE EXTRACTION OF FAT FROM BIRD-SKINS. 



BY HOYES LLOYD. 



Many valuable bird-skins are rapidly deteriorating, and this 

 work was undertaken with a view to discover a simple method to 

 stop the decomposition of existing specimens and to enable us to 

 prepare specimens which will not decompose from the same causes, 

 in the years to come. If this method succeeds in preventing the 

 imminent total destruction of type specimens and specimens of 

 extinct species, as well as many others of value to the ornithologist 

 I shall be amply rewarded. 



The decay of bird-skins is due, apparently, to the presence of fat. 

 This fat gradually spreads over the entire specimen and even 

 saturates the label, in time making it illegible. The fat itself dis- 

 colors the specimen and every particle of dust with which the 

 specimen comes in contact adheres to the fat, thus increasing the 

 discoloration. Finally, we have a dirty, greasy bird-skin; the 

 feathers are matted and adhere to each other in groups and the 

 specimen does not resemble the living bird in the slightest degree. 

 Then the fat decomposes, perhaps very slowly, and the fatty acids 

 produced slowly attack the skin itself and gradually it falls to 

 pieces and is utterly destroyed. 



Washing or wiping the specimen with solvents for fats is only a 



