THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
29 
are regarded as very flue, while there are no powders 
in market which do not appear coarse under a power 
of 500 or 600. The methods of examination will 
probably vary under different circumstances, but in 
any case, the operation is a very simple one. 
In this case a doubling? of the magnifying power 
more than doubles the efficiency of the microscope, 
for this is one of the few cases where areas and 
even cubical contents are of account. A frag- 
ment seen under a power of 100, will appear as 
large as a fragment that is not only 10,000 times, 
but 1,000,000 times as large, and under a power 
of 600 diameters, a fragment weighing th« 1- 
10,000th part of a grain would appear as large as 
one which wei<^hed over three pounds avoirdu- 
pois 1 This seems very astonishing, but a little 
calculation will readily show its accuracy and 
points very strongly to a hitherto neglected 
but very importaut employment for the micros 
cope. 
anneal it very well) ; some hemp, raw cotton (wad- 
ding), whitening, pulverized alum or chloride of lime 
and arsenic or arsenical soap, a brad-awl or twor 
some pieces of old soft rag, and a wet towel on which 
to wipe the fingers. 
Spring is tlie best time for preparing wild birds,^ 
but our cock may be taken when convenient. Keep 
Fire Screen, Lambrequin Ornaments, etc., 
of Cock's Head and Plumage. 
Boys, and girls too, should learn the easy, and 
interesti.ig art of Taxidermy, by which they may 
not only preserve and mount the various pets they 
are so unfortunate as to lose, but may also with 
very ordinary fowls, birds and animals of various 
kinds, make elegant household ornaments and 
embellishments ; perhaps establish a cabinet-case, 
in which, on a tree they will have various birds, 
while on a rock a fawn will stand as naturally 
as if in its forest homo ; and rabbits, squirrels, 
'coons, ' etc., peep out from different coverts, 
or lie upon the grass ; stoop to drink from a tiny 
lake, or reach up to the foliage of the tree above 
them ; while the faithful dog you loved so well, 
appears to guard the mimic forest, and the sev- 
eral pussies you have lost, look as natural as in 
life, upon the roof of the cottage, arranged in the 
corner. This is by no means an impossible 
attempt, and we could describe three such pretty 
museums, one of which is arranged in the recess 
of a sitting-room, and is a source of constant de- 
light, it is inclosed with glass doors, and is a 
pretty bit of nature. But a very simple first lesson 
is the one 1 am about to describe to you now, as a 
means of m.aking a pretty ornament. I will suppose 
you have a handsome specimen of a chanticleer in 
the yard which you will kill in a humane way, by cut- 
ting a blood vessel in the neck, which is easier 
than wringing or chopping it, and will not spoil the 
beautiful feathers ; now when dead, place it on its 
back on a piece of clean board, and having provided 
yourself with a sharp pen-knife, a pair of cutting ply- 
ers, a pair of strong scissors, of medium size, a but- 
ton-hook, u salt spoon, and a hand vise, a needle and 
some linen thread, (a hone on wliich to touch your 
knife occasionally) ; anaealed wire (j'ou can make it 
red hot, and leave it in the air until cold, which will 
the bird for three days — if the weather will permit, 
as the skin will then separate easily. 
Lay the bird on its back, part the feathers along 
the breast where an open seam appears, extending 
round the lower part of the neck ; cut around this 
and separate the body from the neck, carefully, then 
turn the skin over the head; the back of the skull 
will now appear, cut a small hole in this in semi- 
circular form, turning it up like a trap door, and into 
it pass the little spoon, scooping out all the brains, 
etc., then with a small half ounce syringe, squirt 
water gently in and wash out the cavity, into which 
dust the alum and arsenic mixed, and fill with wad- 
ding. 
The next step requires care — namely, the eyes ; cut 
carefully round with the sharp knife, pressing the 
orbit gently to aid in crushing the small bones, 
separating the ball from the roof of the mouth, then 
catching the ball with small forceps, you can draw it 
