II. — On the Best Method of Relaxing the Dried Skins 

 of Birds and other Animals. By William Swainson, 

 Esq., F.K.S., L.S., c£-£?. iReadQthFehriiarij, 1854.] 



Observing in the Museum of tlie Eoyal Society of Tasmania 

 a valuable and not an inconsiderable collection of bird 

 skins from different countries, whicli will require, eventually, 

 to be mounted or set up in their natural attitudes, I think 

 it very desirable to lay before the Society the method of 

 relaxing such skins, as pursued by the best animal preservers 

 in Europe, and the efl&ciency of which I have repeatedly 

 proved. 



Let a common box be made of any seasoned wood, about 

 three-quarters of an inch thick, with the cover or lid made 

 to lift off and on, but without hinges. The size is not material, 

 but that which is most generally convenient may be about 

 two and a half feet long by one and a half feet broad in 

 the clear. This will be sufficiently large to contain the skins 

 of nearly all the birds under the size of a goose or eagle ; 

 and for those which are larger other methods, which I will 

 subsequently allude to, should be used. Let the sides and 

 bottom have an internal lining of plaster of Paris, at least 

 two inches in thickness ; the lid also should have a similar 

 coating, leaving only a margin all round for receiving the 

 edges of the box itself. When this internal coating of plaster 

 becomes dry, it is hard, but perfectly porous. 



When it is required to relax the skins of any birds, (three, 

 four, or five at once), let a sufficient quantity of hot water 

 be poured into the box to saturate the whole of the plaster, 

 not only on the bottom, but that which lines the sides and 



