72 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



The foregoing preparation, thougli perfectly efficient for small 

 mammals (say up to squirrel size) and for birds, is not sufficiently 

 strong to penetrate the skin and thoroughly fix the hair of the 

 larger mammals. For this purpose the older taxidermists used 

 a wash or powder, composed of equal pa^rts of alum and nitre 

 (saltpetre). This had the double disadvantage of rendering the 

 specimen cured by its aid almost dripping with humidity in 

 damp weather, and efflorescing with the double salts around the 

 eyes and mouth in dry weather. Alum alone was frequently 

 used by those unaware of its peculiar property of deliquescing 

 in heat as well as in humidity. 



I have, I believe, at last succeeded in arranging the proper 

 X^roportions, and in substituting, for the worse than useless crude 

 alum, the alum ustum or burnt alum, which is not affected by 

 moisture (at least to any appreciable extent). The proportions 

 are : 



No. 9. — Browne s Preservative Powder for SJcins of Mammals. 

 Barnt alum, lib. | Saltpetre, ilb. 



Pound and thoroughly mix. 



This, well rubbed into the skin and fleshy parts of mammals, 

 is a certain and thoroughly trustworthy cure, and will penetrate 

 through skin a quarter of an inch or more thick, fixing the hair 

 or fur in a most admirable manner, and has the double advantage 

 of being harmless to the person using it, and beneficial even if it 

 gets on the outside of the skin of the specimen ; indeed, it should 

 be rubbed in on the fur side if the specimen is at all " high " 

 when brought in. In all cases it is a good plan to thoroughly 

 rub the outside of the ears, eyelids, nose, and lips, with this 

 composition before skinning. I consider this the greatest boon 

 to the animal preserver ever invented, and those to whom I 

 have imparted the formula are loud in its praise, as witness the 

 dozens of letters I have received from all parts during the last 

 seven years. 



If the proportions given are adhered to, no crystallisation of 

 Gaits will take place around the eyes and mouth. Should this, 

 however, happen from any cause, a stiff brush dipped in olive 

 oil may be used to remove it and prevent its reappearance. 



After the mammal is stuffed and mounted, it may be washed 



