CHAPTER lY. 



Peeservative SoapS; Powders^ etc. 



Having skinned a zoological specimen, we require, as a matter 

 of coui'se, to anoint the inside of the skin with some preserva- 

 tive, for the purpose of arresting decomposition and general 

 decay, and also defending it from the ravages of insects for an 

 indefinite period. Many things will partially cure a skin; for 

 instance, rubbing it with dry earth and exposing it to the sun, 

 as I have done with some success when hunting abroad ; chalk 

 also will do, if nothing else can be procured. I have at the 

 present moment a raven's head cut off by a rifle ball, cured only 

 with chalk, and which is now, after a lapse of twenty years, in as 

 good a state of preservation as need be. Still we require other 

 aids than sun and chalk to properly preserve our specimens, 

 especially in our usually cold, damp climate ; and if we ask what 

 is the sine qua non, a chorus of professional and amateur taxi- 

 dermists shout out, "Arsenic, of course." I propose to show 

 the fallacy of this, being quite of the way of thinking of 

 Waterton, who says, " It (arsenic) is dangerous to the operator 

 and inefficient as a preservative." I will, however, give everyone 

 a chance of doing exactly as he pleases by jotting down three 

 different recipes for arsenical soaps. The inventor of the first of 

 these appears to have been one Becoeur, of the now world- 

 renowned Metz. BeccBur appears to have flourished about the 

 jear 1770, and his formula is still commonly used. It is com- 

 pounded as follows : 



No. 1. — Becoetir's Arsenical Soap. 



Camphor, 5oz. 

 Powdered arsenic, 21b. 

 White soap, 2ib. 



Salt of tartar, 12oz. 

 Lime in powder (or powdered 

 chalk), 4oz. 



