MATERIALS FOR STUFFING. 53 
scalpels need constant sharpening—mine are generally too 
dull to cut much with, and I suppose I am like other people — 
while scissors stay sharp enough. The flat, thin ivory or ebony 
handle of the scalpel is about as useful as the blade. Finger- 
nails, which were made before scalpels, are a mighty help. 
Forceps are almost indispensable for seizing and holding parts 
too small or too remote to be grasped by the fingers. The 
Kknitting-needle is wanted for a specific purpose noted beyond. 
The shears or nippers are only needed for what the ordinary 
scissors are too weak to do. Our instruments, you see now, 
are ‘‘a short horse soon curried.” 
§32. Marerrats. a. For stuffing. ‘* What do you stuff ’em 
with?” is usually the first question of idle curiosity about 
taxidermy, as if that were the great point; whereas, the stuff- 
ing is so small a matter that I generally reply—“ anything, ex- 
cept brickbats!” But if stuffing birds were the final cause of 
Cotton, that admirable substance could not be more perfectly 
adapted than it is to the purpose. Ordinary raw cotton batting 
or wadding is what you want. When I can get it I never 
think of using anythipg else for small birds. I would use it 
for all birds were expense no object. Here towscomes in; there 
is a fine, clean, bleached article of tow prepared for surgical 
dressings; this is the best, but any will do. Some say chop 
your tow fine; this is harmless but unnecessary. A crumpled 
newspaper, wrapped with tow, is first-rate for a large bird. 
Failing cotton or tow, any soft, light, dry vegetable substance 
may be made to answer, rags, paper, crumbled leaves, fine dried 
grass, soft fibrous inner bark, etc.; the down of certain plants, 
as thistle and silk-weed, makes an exquisite filling for small 
birds. But I will qualify my remark about brickbats by say- 
ing: never put hair, wool, feathers, or any other ANIMAL sub- 
stance in a birdskin — far better leave it empty; for, as we 
shall see in the sequel, bugs come fast enough, without being 
invited into a snug nest. b. For preserving. ARsENIC* is the 

* * Arsenic” —not the pure metal properly so called, but arsenic of the shops, 
or arsenious acid. : 
