36 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



10. — Alcoholic Solution of Mercury, one part in 500. 



For preventing and arresting mildew, and for external use upon skins. 



Methyl-alcohol, 90 per cent. . i pint 



Bichloride of mercury . 20 grains 



11. — Alcoholic Solution of Mercury (M.B.) 



For preventing and arresting mildew, and for external use upon skins. 



Methyl-alcohol, 90 per cent. i pint 



Bichloride of mercury . . 50 grains = 2j scruples 



No. 10 will be found very useful to prevent mould from 

 appearing in the water of the tanks containing non-alcoholic 

 preparations, the various strengths of bichromate preserva- 

 tives being singularly liable to fungoid growths, which 

 spread over the tanks as leathery masses. This fungus, and 

 another also, attacked the water in which the preparations were 

 decolorising (see p. 55) in the Leicester Museum; but the 

 addition of one part in 500, or a few drops of a saturated 

 solution, of bichloride of mercury has been effectual, even in 

 warm weather, to prevent the formation of any fungoid growths. 



Nos. I o and 1 1 , the latter for very badly infested skins, 

 will be found very useful for brushing over the feathers, beak, 

 and legs of any rare bird, to protect them from the attacks of 

 insects ; and No. 10 is also a certain cure for all specimens 

 which, in damp situations, are found to have "little white 

 insects " (acari) running nimbly over them. The spirit soon 

 evaporates, leaving no apparent trace of the contained mercury, 

 which not only kills mites and insects at once, but prevents 

 others, and mildew, ever appearing afterwards. It is useful also 

 as a bath for dried insects {i.e. entomological specimens) which 

 are affected either by mites or mould. 



For valuable birds'-skins and for butterflies it will be found 

 better to use sulphuric ether as a substitute for alcohol, the 

 former, although much more expensive, evaporating so much 



