Oe ee ee a ee 
Botany and Zoology. 283 
ied i ret th 
vitality during the wlacial pio and by their germination after 
it “reproduced the flora of the pre-glacial period,” we can onl 
wonder that this immense as of the hypothesis of the fivdioth 
nite vitality of buried seeds should have been made at a time when 
most biologists probably doubt whether any seed ever preserved 
the power of germination for a century or two. 
2. Carbolizing Birds ; by H. W. Parker. (Communicated by 
the Author.)—The following methods, carefully studied for two 
years, with results nti are recommended for the saving of birds 
limits of species ; por or higanor es small birds, at least as tem- 
porary representatives, when neither the time nor the expense in- 
volved in the old methods can be afforded. 
viscera are removed, to effect which neatly the legs are 
pinned widel art, and a paper several times folded is pinned 
over the tail in the direction whither the viscera are drawn out. 
roper care, the sex is readily observe Ww f cotton 
close to the body, and a knife or wire is introduced into the cavity 
and run down into the flesh of the leg, working the instrument 
around, but not so as to break the skin. For a small bird, five to 
ten drops of the commercial fiuid preparation of carbolic acid is 
made to anoint the whole interior, and to penetrate the leg b 
stretching and relaxing the same in proper position. The appli- 
the skin drawn back into © e inside of the mouth is well 
anointed, pone a Pigs: sg ape of ates pushed rile the whole 
aps of the es are re oved a ked wire in- 
in it, care bein 
meee are wet, the acid can be removed $s ee ered ch: 
peatedly a appli ed, 3 
pecimens so prepared in warm weather, can be skinned a week 
or two after, if kept boxed in a cellar. No smell of decomposi- 
