72 



TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



composed of nearly half poisons — and such poisons ! — would be 

 rather more risky than usual, and more useless. 



As a variation from arsenical soaps, there have been men 

 rash enough to advise the use of arsenical powders. The 

 following was invented by Bullock, and is to be found in every 

 compilation of taxidermy. 



By an unconscious irony, it is quoted as — 



56. — " Bullock's Preservative (!) Powder (Swainson, Taxidermy, p. 29, 



and others) 

 Arsenic . . . . . . 1 lb. 



Burnt alum 

 Tanner's bark 

 Camphor . 

 Tincture of musk 



2 lbs. 



" Mix the whole thoroughly, and after reducing it to a 

 powder, pass it through a sieve. Keep in close tin canisters. 

 This powder is more particularly adapted to fill up incisions 

 made in the naked parts of quadrupeds and the skulls of large 

 birds." 



It seems to be very generally imagined that all moths, or, 

 rather, their larvae, eat the skins. This is a fallacy in the 

 majority of instances, the parts attacked being the feathers, 

 not the skin. 



Let it be once thoroughly grasped that no poison except 

 bichloride of mercury — which is extremely dangerous to handle 

 when made as a solution or paste, as is usually the case — is of 

 any avail or protection against the irrepressible maggot, and 

 common sense — should that rare quality abide with the 

 ordinary taxidermist — will dictate the disuse of the dangerous 

 and useless arsenical, and the substitution of an innocent and 

 quickly drying, soap. Let it be grasped also that no claim is 

 made that the following will resist the attacks of insects, any 

 more than will the various arsenical preparations in use. All 



