324 



ON PRESERVING BIRDS. 



Preserving in the feather will be injured, and the sublimate will pre- 



Birds. 



— serve it from the depredation of the insect. 



Perhaps it may be satisfactory to add here, that, some 

 years ago, I did a bird upon this plan in Demerara, It 

 remained there two years. It was then conveyed to 

 England, where it staid five months, and returned to 

 Demerara. After being four years more there, it was 

 conveyed back again through the West Indies to Eng- 

 land, where it has now been near five years, unfaded and 

 unchanged. 



On reflecting that this bird has been twice in the 

 temperate and torrid zone, and remained some years in 

 the hot and humid climate of Demerara, only six degrees 

 from the line, and where almost every thing becomes a 

 prey to the insect, and that it is still as sound and bright 

 as when it was first done, it will not be thought extrava- 

 gant to surmise, that this specimen will retain its pristine 

 form and colours for years after the hand that stuffed it 

 has mouldered into dust. 



I have shown this art to the naturalists in Brazil, 

 Cayenne, Demerara, Oroonoque, and Rome, and to the 

 royal cabinets of Turin and Florence. A severe accident 

 prevented me from communicating it to the cabinet of 

 Paris, according to my promise. A word or two more, 

 and then we Avill conclude. 



A little time and experience will enable you to produce 

 a finished specimen. " Mox similis volucri, mox vera 



