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ON PREPARING SPECIMENS FOR MUSEUMS. 



BY R. B , ESQ. DUBLIN. 



The preparing of a collection of specimens being one of the most 

 seductive modes of fostering a taste for natural" history, it appears of 

 importance to facilitate as much as possible the formation of museums. 

 The loss of useful discoveries may by this means in many instances be 

 prevented, and numerous improvements may possibly arise. I make 

 this suggestion with a full consciousness of the vast difference between 

 the naturalist of the museum, and the naturalist of observation in the 

 fields. Yet the importance of a museum cannot be denied, and if put 

 together by the observing and practical naturalist, it will much enhance 

 his pleasure by serving as vivid memoranda to the information he has 

 gleaned from observation of the specimens in their various localities. 

 In accordance with these views the following details are offered, pre- 

 suming them to be quite new to the public. 



Birds are too often rejected as not worth preserving, from being 

 bloody or otherwise soiled ; but they can be perfectly restored to 

 purity of plumage in the following manner. Having mounted the 

 bird in the attitude designed, wash the soiled parts gently in the 

 direction of the feathers, with a sponge and cold soft water, which, 

 if carefully performed, will not discompose the plumage. Then, 

 having made a mixture of raw starch and cold water, of the con- 

 sistency of thin mortar, lay a coat of it about the eighth of an 

 inch thick over the parts to be cleansed, and in about twenty-four 

 hours, when it is dry, it may be removed by a few taps of the finger, 

 and will carry with it the blood or other soiling which it was sought 

 to remove. This useful plan was suggested from seeing extensive 

 stains removed from carpets by starch, and was first put in practice 

 with complete success on a golden-eyed duck (Clangula vulgaris). 

 This bird had been badly shot, was much soiled with blood, mud, the 

 discharge from the mouth, and had been many days killed ; yet by the 

 foregoing means its feathers were restored to perfect cleanness. The 

 same method has since been tried on birds many years mounted, with 

 great advantage, and even stains produced in performing the operation 

 after stuffing, may be readily removed in a similar manner. 



In mounting mammalia, the natural expression is attained with con- 

 siderable ease as follows. Take a mould of the skinned breast of the 

 animal in Paris plaster, a simple operation, from which a cast of the 

 same material is to be made, inserting at the time, one or more wires 



