rOL. LX.] . PHILOSOPHIC AL TRANSACTIONS. 35 



tural ones as possible, put them into the sockets by means of a small pair of 

 nippers introdnr^d at the mouth. The eyes will be best made by dropping drops 

 of black sealing wax on a card of the size of the natural ones; the card must be 

 cut something larger than the wax to prevent their falling out of the head. Fill 

 the head quite full witli cotton, pouring some of the spirits down the throat, with 

 some of the powder; a small piece of brass wire, that has been heated in the 

 fire to make it pliable, may be put down the throat, being passed through one 

 of the nostrils, and fastened to the breast bone, to place the head in any attitude 

 you choose; next fill up the body where the flesh has been taken away, with 

 cotton and the composition; and having a fine needle and silk, sew up the skin, 

 beginning at the breast, observing, as you approach towards the vent, to stuff 

 the skin as tight as it will bear. This will be easiest accomplished by means of a 

 small piece of stick- or ivory, like a skewer, till the whole is done: then lay the 

 feathers of the breast and belly in their proper order, and the bird will bfe com- 

 pleted. If you would chuse to put it into an attitude, by introducing a small 

 piece of the wire above mentioned through the sole of each foot up the leg, and 

 into the pinion of eacli wingj it may be disposed of as you please. A. compo- 

 sition of sublimate mercury, tempered with some water, and rubbed gently over 

 the feathers, will prevent insects, and other vermin, from destroying the plumage. 



XVII. On the yfp/jearance of Ligfilnhig on a Conductor Jixed from the Summit 

 of the Mainmast of a Ship, down to the JVater. By Capt. J. L. Winn. 

 p. 188. 



Capt. Winn says he was never without a conductor in his ship. He had them 

 of various constructions: that which he last used was a chain of copper wire, down 

 by the outside of the ship into the water. That such a chain, so disposed, may 

 conduct the lightning, and prevent a stroke that might destroy a ship, has often 

 been demonstrated; but a circumstance that occurred in his last voyage, may 

 perhaps have greater weight with some seamen, than all the reasonings of the 

 electricians. If it should be a means of persuading them to make use of conduc- 

 tors, his intention will be answered. 



In April last, as they approached the coast of America, they met with strong 

 south-westerly gales : they had continued several days, when exceedingly dark 

 heavy clouds arose in the opposite quarter, forced against the wind till they had 

 covered all the north-eastern half of the hemisphere: the struggle then between 

 the two winds was very extraordinary; sometimes one prevailing, sometimes the 

 other. Capt. W. was apprehensive they should have much lightning, and got 

 his conductor in order; when, in hauling up the mainsail, the sheet block struck 

 violently against the back-stays, to which the chain was fastened, and, as he 

 found afterwards, broke the latter, which occasioned the phenomenon described 



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