100 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 
them too long before they were done, but they are more 
susceptible to the attacks of insects than skins. The 
modus operandi is as follows, First break in the keel of 
the breastbone. Then cut with your long-handled, sharp- 
pointed scissors from the posterior margin to the vent, and 
after applying plaster of paris freely, squeeze out the entrails 
by pressing on the back with the thumb. Then remove 
lungs and heart, and stop up the cavity with acid and 
wool. Half a teaspoonful is enough for a Dunlin, which is 
as large a bird as you can safely do. It then only remains 
to put a quarter of a teaspoonful down the mouth, and the 
bird is done. 
The crystallized carbolic is best, as that is undiluted. It 
must not be exposed to heat or light, or it will become 
liquid and lose a portion of its strength. 
Great care is necessary not to drop any on the fingers. It 
hardens the flesh and takes away the sense of touch, or it 
may produce an ulcer. The antidote is to wash it off im- 
mediately, and steep the part in oil. The “Collector's 
Vade Mecum,” by Mr. Hume, gives a still graver caution. 
“Remember,” says the author, “that the smallest drop of 
the acid in the eye permanently destroys the eyesight.” 
This useful brochure gives full instructions for preparing 
birds by carbolic acid and other means. I ought to say’ 
that though birds preserved with it can be skinned after- 
wards, they are a great deal of trouble, and never look well. 
BEASTS. 
There is no large game on the Nile, except Crocodiles 
‘and a few Gazelle. A small herd of the latter inhabit the 
desert at Gow, where we saw them in the up voyage, and 
again in the down voyage. Hyenas are said to exist, and 
at the Memnonium I saw a beast one night which I was 
told was a Wolf. Jackals cannot be very common, as I 
