SEC. VI INSTRUMENTS, ETC., FOR PREPARING BIRDSKINS 41 



When mixed with water it soon solidifies, the original hydrate being 

 again formed. The mode of using it is indicated beyond. It is 

 most conveniently kept in a shallow tray, say a foot square, and an 

 inch or two deep, which had better, furthermore, slide under the 

 table as a drawer ; or form a compartment of a larger drawer. 

 Ke&p gypsum and arsenic in different-looking receptacles, not so much 

 to keep from poisoning yourself, as to keep from not poisoning a 

 birdskin. They look much alike, and skinning becomes such a 

 mechanical process that you may get hold of the vrrong article when 

 your thoughts are wandering in the woods. Gypsum, like arsenic, 

 has no worthy rival in its own field ; some substitutes, in the order 

 of their applicability, are : corn-meal, probably the best thing after 

 gypsum ; calcined magnesia (very good but too light — it floats in 

 the air, and makes you cough) ; bicarbonate of magnesia ; powdered 

 chalk ("prepared chalk," creta prceparata of the drug shops, is the best 

 kind) ; fine wood-ashes ; clean dry loam. No article, however 

 powdery when dry, that contains a glutinous principle, as for instance 

 gum-arabic or flour, is admissible, (d) For wrapping, you want a 

 thin, pliable, strong paper ; toilet-paper is the very best ; newspaper 

 is pretty good. For making the cones or cylinders in which bird- 

 skins may be set to dry, a stifier article is required ; writing paper 

 answers perfectly. 



Naturalists habitually eappy a Poeket Lens, much as other 

 people do a watch. You will find a magnifying glass very con- 

 venient in your search for the sexual organs of small birds when 

 obscure, as they frequently are, out of the breeding-season; in 

 picking lice from plumage, to send to your entomological friend, 

 who will very likely pronounce them to be of a new species ; and for 

 other purposes. 



Fixtures. — When travelling, your fixtures must ordinarily be 

 limited to a collecting-chest ; you will have to skin birds on the top 

 of this, on the tail-board of a wagon, or on your lap, as the case may 

 be. The chest should be very substantial— iron-bound is best ; 

 strong as to hinges and lock — and have handles. A good size is 

 30 X 18 X 18 inches. Let it be fitted with a set of trays; the 

 bottom one say four inches deep ; the rest shallower ; the top one 

 very shallow, and divided into compartments for your tools and 

 materials, unless you fix these on the under side of the lid. Start 

 out with all the trays full of cotton or tow. At home have a room 

 to yourself, if possible ; taxidermy makes a mess to which your wife 

 may object, and arsenic must not come in the way of children. At 

 any rate have your own table. Great cleanliness is indispensable, 

 especially when doing much work in hot weather, for the place soon 

 smells sour if neglected. I use no special receptacle for offal, for 

 this only makes another article to be cleaned ; lay down a piece of 



