March, 1884.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



29 



fresh arrivals. Throwing aside the quill, I 

 made a dash for the nearest woods with 

 those feelings so common to a counting- 

 room naturalist — "any where for anything." 

 I soon found myself in what is known as 

 the Albion Grove — on the outskirts of the 

 village of the same name — some five miles 

 from Pawtucket. My attention was soon 

 attracted to the unusual numbers of the 

 Blue Yellow-backs, {Panda Americana.) 

 Every tree seemed alive with them. Step- 

 ping into an opening, a flock of perhaps 

 twenty came darting past. The tempta- 

 tion was too much. In the mechanical act 

 of firing the peculiar appearance of one 

 was the magnet that attracted its fate. 

 As I picked it up, the first impression was 

 that I had the female of the Black-and- 

 white Warbler, (Jf/viotilta varia,) but close 

 examination convinced me that I had 

 something new. Though badly shattered, 

 I carefully preserved and mounted it. It 

 is now in my collection marked " Cerulean 

 Warbler — male." Comparing it with some 

 fine skins that I have received from Messrs. 

 Rathbun & Wright, I find the markings 

 are exceptionally well defined, but the 

 plumage much darker — rather inclined to 

 slate than blue. Few of our amateur col- 

 lectors would have saved a bird in the same 

 condition. In this connection, I would 

 suggest to the readers of the O. and O. — 

 save any specimen that attracts attention 

 as unusual, no matter in what condition. 

 If only the head, wings and feet are pre- 

 served — they may lead to an identification 

 that will be of value to all. — F. B. W. 



How to Use Arsenic. 



I am frequently asked if I am ever 

 troubled with insects in my Natural His- 

 tory specimens and I only have one answer 

 — Never — and if my directions are followed 

 no one ever need be. After skinning, im- 

 mediately cover the moist skin with pure 

 arsenic — be particular to cover every part. 

 I keep my arsenic in a large box and put 



my skins right into the arsenic; pull out 

 the leg and wing bones as far as possible 

 so as to introduce the arsenic to the ex- 

 treme parts ; the eye sockets, skull and 

 mouth should be well covered with the 

 preservative. I usually, before mounting, 

 place the specimen in my office cellar, and 

 let it remain twenty-four or more hours, so 

 as to get well impregnated with arsenic. 

 After mounting, brush the bill, legs below 

 the feathers, feet, and ends of the wings 

 that cannot be skinned, with a solution of 

 corrosive sublimate, in alcohol — about a 

 teaspoonful of the former to one-half pint 

 of the latter. I have bird skins that I have 

 designedly left exposed to insects for thir- 

 ty-five years which to-day are uninjured 

 and will remain so forever — that is a good 

 long time, I know, but they are good for 

 it. I know of several collectors who have 

 laughed at my "useless waste of arsenic," 

 thinking a little just as good, or who pre- 

 fer arsenical soap, or some other preserva- 

 tives, whose collections are entirely ruined. 

 I have been in the habit of using from fif- 

 teen to thirty-five pounds a year for thirty- 

 seven years in m}' private collection. It 

 created some merriment in court where I 

 was summoned as a witness in a case of 

 arsenical poisoning, when asked if I was 

 familiar with arsenic, and I replied that I 

 had probably used one. half ton of it. 

 "What!" said the counsel, "given one-half 

 ton to your patients !" When I receive 

 dry skins, I pack them very loosely in a 

 tight large box, leaving space for an iron 

 kettle, in which is placed live coals. On 

 these pour sulphur and close the box tight, 

 leaving it for twenty.four hours or so ; and 

 if there are insects in the skins you will 

 find them dead. Then subject the skin to 

 the same arsenical treatment as a fresh 

 skin. — Wm. Wood, Fast Windsor Hill, 

 Feb. 12, 1884. 



A King Eider, (Somatei ia spectabilis,) was shot at Nayatt 

 Point, Bristol Co., about Jan. 1, lS&t, by. Jir. Frank Tobey. 

 It was an adult male. This is not the first record for Rhode 

 Island, Mr. F. B. Webster having a female, which was taken 

 at same place Nov. 27, 1ST9. — Random Rotes. 



