338 ON PRESERVING BIRDS. 



BIRDS. 



PRESERVING ^s no part of the skin has escaped receiving 



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particles of sublimate contained in the alcohol, 

 there is not , a spot exposed to the depredation 

 of insects ; for they will never venture to attack 

 any substance which has received corrosive sub- 

 limate. 



You are aware that corrosive sublimate is the 

 most fatal poison to insects that is known. It is 

 antiputrescent ; so is alcohol ; and they are both 

 colourless, of course they cannot leave a stain be- 

 hind them. The spirit penetrates the pores of 

 the skin with wonderful velocity, deposits invisi- 

 ble particles of the sublimate, and flies off. The 

 sublimate will not injure the skin, and nothing 

 can detach it from the parts where the alcohol 

 has left it.* 



Furs of animals, immersed in this solution, will 

 retain their pristine brightness and durability in 

 any climate. 



Take the finest curled feather from a lady's 

 head, dip it in the solution, and shake it gently 

 till it be dry ; you will find, that the spirit will 

 fly off in a few minutes, not a curl in the feather 

 will be injured, and the sublimate will preserve it 

 from the depredation of the insect. 



* All the feathers require to be touched with the solution, 

 in order that they may be preserved from the depredation of 

 the moth. The surest way of proceeding is, to immerse the 

 bird in the solution of corrosive sublimate, and then dry it 

 before you begin to dissect it. 



