18 TAXIDERMY. 



take some melted gum arable, add the powder to it, 

 and a large handful of pounded paper, mix the 

 whole well together, and put it into a flat pot. 



We shall presently point out the use of these 

 different compositions. 



In warm countries the skins of animals must be 

 prepared without delay ; even in the places where 

 they are killed, and with very few tools. For these 

 occasions we will instance M. Mauge, who, in the 

 voyage round the world which he undertook for 

 the sake of Natural History, only carried a box of 

 scalpels; he nevertheless prepared a great number 

 of birds and quadrupeds, received by the Museum 

 in 1803. It is true the animals were only skinned 

 and half stuffed ; and this operation being the most 

 simple, required fewer implements than to mount 

 and prepare them ; but it is quite as much as a tra- 

 veller ought to do in his distant expeditions, be- 

 cause the objects are quickly arranged in this state, 

 and are very easy to pack. 



Of the Chace. 



A double barrelled gun is to be preferred ; one 

 of the barrels loaded with small shot, or the dross 

 of lead, for little birds, and the other with large 

 shot. It must be observed, that the barrel des- 

 tined to kill small birds, ought to be loaded with 



