508 PHII.OSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1748. 



Other, and over each other in a box, filling up the intervals with a matter easiest 

 to be had, as chafF of oats or barley. 



Any box, of what form soever, may be fit for birds which are to be on the 

 journey only for some weeks or a few months: such as are to travel years require 

 more precaution. But barrels are preferable to boxes, for such birds as are to 

 remain shut up for a year or longer ; the smallest insects will not find a passage 

 for creeping into a barrel, which will not permit the smallest drop of liquor to 

 get out. Birds being put wet into the barrel, keep from drying up too much, 

 and keep each other the closer. 



There is still another way for it, which may appear more convenient, especially 

 for birds of a large size. Which is, to preserv^e birds by a sort of embalming, 

 and even by actual embalming, in countries where the spices are cheap. First, 

 you begin with emptying the body of the bird, and then fill it with the powders 

 mentioned below ; you also fill its neck with the same powder, thrusting it in 

 through the bill. If the bird is extremely fleshy, you may make an incision in 

 the flesh of the thick part of each leg, and one in the flesh of each wing ; that 

 is, 2 on the breast, and one nearer the first and large bone of each wing, into 

 which you put the powder ; having afterwards brought the flesh together again, 

 and put the feathers in order, those incisions will be hid so as not at all to dis- 

 figure the bird. But there are very few on which it is necessary to make such 

 incisions ; one may make some even inwardly, which will serve as well ; having 

 thrust your fingers into the belly, you may tear the integuments over against the 

 thick part of the leg, and in other places, and make cavities to be afterwards 

 filled up with the powder. 



There are many powders proper to produce the principal effect intended here, 

 which is to promote the bird's drying before it be so far corrupted as to occasion 

 the falling off of the feathers. All sorts of spices may be used for it with success. 

 You may even make use of a powder composed of as many sorts of spices as you 

 will, the result of which will be at least, that the bird, after being dried, will 

 smell the sweeter, and become, as it were, a piece of perfume. But instead of 

 using resinous gums, as aloe, myrrh, frankincense, and other productions of 

 plants, as cinnamon, cloves, pepper, ginger, &c. which are dear materials, you 

 may content yourself with a salt which is cheap in most countries , it is sufficient 

 . to fill the cavity of the body and of the neck with alum reduced to powder. A 

 material still easier to be had in all places, and very cheap, and which works with 

 great effect, is lime. If it can be had quite unslacked, you will take it preferably; 

 however, without scrupling to take such as is old, and which has been slackened 

 by the humidity of the air. 



After the body and the neck of the bird have been filled up, either with pul- 

 verized lime, alum, or any other powder, put it into the box or the barrel, io 



