460 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



the proper proportion. The whole skin can be immersed in 

 this solution without detriment, if it be deemed expedient. 



With these few observations on this head, we will pass on to 

 another kindred subject, which we also purpose to treat in the 

 same summary manner ; our object being merely to call the 

 attention of the intelligent Sportsman to these matters, in hopes 

 of creating an interest in those animals which he pursues, 

 heyond the mere shooting of them, an interest which will most 

 likely ultimately result in benefits to the cause of science. If 

 this end is accomplished, my object is secured. 



It could not be expected of us to enter largely into the 

 subject of Taxidermy, for it would require a volume of itself, 

 and moreover there has been so much already written by those 

 far more experienced than we could ever hope to be, that it 

 would be absurd in ns to collate such matters for our present 

 Book, but would rather refer our readers to the works of Mrs. 

 Lee, and Captain Brown, either of which contains about all the 

 information that one could desire upon the art of Collecting, 

 Preparing, and Mounting objects of Natural History. 



Both of these manuals have gone through a large number 

 of additions, and contain a vast amount of information in a 

 small compass. 



PRESERVING EGG-SHELLS. 



To make his cabinet more complete, a Sportsman may have 

 a desire to preserve the nests and forms of the eggs of such 

 Game Birds as he may meet with in his rambles over the 

 country. The only effectual method of doing this is "to blow 

 the eggs," as the shells are so very porous that no plan, how- 

 ever skilfully devised, will prevent the putrefaction, sooner or 

 later, of their contents, if we attempt to preserve them Avhole. 

 Baking, boiling, slow-drying, immersion in spirits, varnishing, 

 &c. &c. have all been tried without effect ; the latter plan, how- 

 ever, is perhaps the most lasting of all means yet discovered. 

 To rightly "blow an egg-shell" is a process familiar to every 

 truant-playing young urchin, and it would therefore seem unne- 

 cessary for us to enter into an}^ detail upon so trite a subject; 

 however, we may not go far amiss in instructing some one of 



