84 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



not do, however, for non-alcoliolic solutions, nor for glass 

 stoppers, from whicL. it scales off when cold. 



Geneeal Eemarks. 



In all cases when " pickling " animals it must be remembered 

 that the first pickle, whether alcoholic or not, is essentially 

 deteriorated by the bloody mucus and water which exudes 

 from the specimens, especially if large and " flabby ; " this, of 

 course, reduces the strength of the preservative medium. It 

 is well, therefore, to have from three to four different vessels, 

 in which the objects shall be successively immersed for several 

 days, or even weeks, until, coming to the final preparation 

 jar, they shall not stain the liquid in which they are ulti- 

 mately to rest. 



By using the various strengths of each preservative fluid one 

 under the other, in which to steep the specimens, proper results: 

 will be obtained, by the exercise of a little forethought and 

 judgment. Filtration through blotting paper or charcoal is 

 necessary from time to time, and expensive spirits may be 

 re-distilled when becoming too weak by constant use. 



Large fishes must have small cuts made in the walls of 

 .the abdomen to allow the fluid to properly penetrate. In 

 cases where the specimen is not required for dissection, the 

 removal of the viscera facilitates the ultimate preservation. 



If at any time it is necessary to throw away a quantity 

 of inexpensive spent liquor which may smell offensively, a 

 small quantity of the crystals of permanganate of potassa 

 will instantly deodorise a large quantity of fluid, and this 

 without adding to it any offensive scent of its own, as in 

 the case of chloride of lime or carbolic acid. The vessel must 

 be aftei'wards well rinsed out in clean water, as the potassa, 

 temporarily stains everything in contact a rich purplish red. 



Some experiments which I conducted with benzoline incon- 

 testably proved to me its valuable properties. I experimented 

 on a Cornish chough — an old specimen, infested with maggots 

 or larvae of the " clothes " moth. I immediately plunged 

 it in benzoline, took it out, di*ained the superfluous spirit off, 

 and rapidly dried it by suspending it in a strong current of 



