PRESERVATION OF BIRDS. 153 



try in winter only: it has a beautiful plumage of 

 dusky blue on the back, and inclining to yellow on 

 the breast and belly : it is the smallest hawk I be- 

 lie ve to be seen in this island, and would weigh little 

 or no more than the common snipe. The country 

 people also, who reside where these birds are plenti- 

 ful, take abundance of them by means of a sort of 

 snare, called in some parts apantle. 



Preservation of Birds. 



The following directions are given by Sir Ashton 

 Lever for the preservation of birds : " Large birds 

 should be carefully skinned, the head, tail, and feet 

 left entire ; the skin may then be put either into a 

 vessel of spirits, or rubbed well on the inside with the 

 following mixture: one pound of salt, four ounces 

 of alum, and two ounces of pepper pounded together. 

 Small birds may be thus treated take out the en- 

 trails, open a passage to the brain, which should be 

 scooped out through the mouth ; introduce into the 

 cavities of the skull and the whole body some of the 

 above mixture, putting it also through the gullet and 

 entire length of the neck, hang the bird in a cool airy 

 place, first by the feet, that the body may be impreg- 

 nated by the salts, 'and afterwards by a thread through 

 the under mandible of the bill, till it appears to be 

 sweet, then expose it in the sun or near a fire : after 

 it is well dried, clean out what remains loose of the 

 mixture, and fill the cavity of the body with wool, 



H 5 



