PRESERVATIVE SOAPS, POWDERS, ETC. 69 



using it are perfectly satisfied, as I myself am after a constant 

 use of it for tlie past seven years. I find tliat skins dressed by 

 it are not " burned," as some people may tbink, but relax most 

 perfectly after a lapse of years by any metbod, even by tbe 

 water process spoken of bereafter. I do not tbink it any 

 better or worse tban tbe arsenical preparations for preventing 

 tbe attacks of insects, but tbe addition of tincture of musk 

 (a lasting perfume) bas seemed to me to be a great gain. 

 One person wrote to me stating bis opinion tbat tbe lime unduly 

 corroded tbe wires used in setting up. I believe tbis migbt 

 bappen in cases wbere tbe mixture was used in a more fluid state 

 tban directed, namelj^ as a paste of a creamy consistence. I 

 know of no evil effects produced. Of course tbe mixture, if kept 

 exposed, dries up in time, and is tben best wetted witb a little 

 warm water, into wbicb a few drops of tincture of musk bave 

 been stirred. Wbere tbere is more fat or flesb tban usual, say, 

 on tbe inside of tbe wings, or on tbe leg bones, or inside tbe 

 m.outb, a small quantity of carbolic acid wasb (Formula 

 No. 16) will be found useful to dilute tbe preservative paste. 

 Carbolic acid, bowever weak, must not be used on tbe tbin 

 parts of tbe skin of small mammals or birds, as it dries and 

 sbrivels tbem up so quickly as to seriously interfere witb subse- 

 quent modelling. 



Tbougb many insects eat tbe skin itself, yet bow is it possible 

 to guard against insects wbicb attack tbe featbers only of birds 

 (as tbe most minute species of tbe little pests do) by an 

 agent wbicb professedly cures tbe skin only ? I remember once 

 seeing tbe most comical sigbt possible, a stuffed cock and ben 

 entirely denuded of featbers by thousands of a minute tinea, 

 tbeir dry skins only left; tbey were as parcbment effigies of 

 tbeir former selves. Difficult as tbe matter is, I yet bope to 

 sbow botb amateurs and professionals bow to considerably 

 increase tbe cbances of preservation. It is tbis : After using 

 tbe soap, and baving tbe mammal arranged or bird staffed ready 

 for " cottoning," brusb over tbe wbole of tbe featbers, legs, toes, 

 and beak, witb tbe following preparation : 



No. 5. — Wate7'ton's Solution of Corrosive Sublimate. 

 To a wine-bottlef ul of spirits of wine add a large teaspoonful 



