54 The Humming Bird. 



WASTE PRODUCTS MADE USEFUL, 



In the North American Review for November there is a 

 very interesting article by Lord Playfair under the above title, 

 says The West Indian and Commercial Advertiser, from 

 which we take the following extract : — 



THE UTILIZATION OF RATS. 



Of all living things rats seem to be among the most 

 repulsive; and when dead what can be their use? But even 

 they are the subjects of production in industrial arts. In 

 Paris there is a pond surrounded by walls into which all dead 

 carcasses are thrown. A large colony of rats has been intro- 

 duced from the catacombs. The rats are most useful in 

 clearing the flesh from the bones, leaving a clean-polished 

 skeleton fitted for the makers of phosphorous. At the base 

 of the wall numerous shallow holes are scooped out just 

 sufficient to contain the body of the rats, but not of their 

 tails. Every three months a great battue takes place, during 

 which the terrified rats run into the holes. Persons go round 

 and catching the extended tails, pitch the rats into bags, and 

 they are killed at leisure. Then begins manufacture. The 

 fur is valuable and finds a ready sale. The skins make a 

 superior glove — the gant de rat — and are especially used for 

 the thumbs of kid gloves because the skin of the rat is strong 

 and elastic. The thigh bones were formerly valued as tooth 

 picks for clubs but are now out of fashion ; while the tendons 

 and bones are boiled up to make the gelatine wrappers for 

 bonbons. 



HOW TO PRESERVE ANIMALS. 



In Scientific American, Mr. Wiese gives the following 

 receipt for the preservation of bodies in their natural form and 

 colour : — " Dissolve 600 grammes hyposulfit of soda in five 

 quarts of water, and seventy-five grammes of chlorine of 

 ammonium in 250 grammes of water. Mix both solutions, 

 and add six c uarts of spirit of wine. Put all bodies of 

 animals in this liquid, and they will keep their form and 

 colours during an unlimited period. 



