AND AMERICAN RURAL SPORTS. 
83 
gentle habits, endeared him to all who saw him: and 
when he could no longer swallow food, the quiet manner 
of putting the hand that offered it on one side, and uttering 
a peculiarly mournful cry, was painfully touching. When 
bled, he evinced not the least alarm or uneasiness, butput 
out his forefinger to touch the blood that was trickling 
from his arm; he even allowed a blister on the chest to re- 
main, after having been scolded once or twice for attempt- 
ing to remove it. 
Without placing entire credence, then, in the many 
wonderful tales related of these animals, enough has sure- 
ly been said to excite our curiosity and interest, and even 
to awaken our admiration. — Mag. Nat. Hist. 
ON PRESERVING INSECTS SELECTED FOR CABINETS. 
Bt C. Watehtoit. 
I only know of two methods to guard prepared insects 
from the depredation of living ones. The first is, by poi- 
soning the atmosphere; the second is, by poisoning the 
preserved specimens themselves, so effectually that they 
are no longer food for the depredator. But there are 
some objections to both these modes. A poisoned atmos- 
phere will evaporate in time, if not attended to, or if ne- 
glected to be renewed; and there is great difficulty in poi- 
soning some specimens on account of their delicacy and 
minuteness. If you keep spirits of turpentine in the 
boxes which contain your preserved specimens, I. am of 
opinion that those specimens will be safe as long as the 
odour of turpentine remains in the box; for it is said 
to be the most pernicious of all scents to insects. But 
it requires attention to keep up an atmosphere of spi- 
rit of turpentine. If it be allowed to evaporate entirely, 
then there is a clear and undisputed path open to the in- 
roads of the enemy: he will take advantage of your ab- 
sence or neglect; and when you return to view your trea- 
sure you will find it in ruins. Spirits of turpentine, poured 
into a common glass inkstand, in which there is a piece of 
sponge, and placed in a corner of your box, will create a 
poisoned atmosphere, and kill every insect there. The 
poisoning of your specimens, by means of corrosive subli- 
mate in alcohol is a most effectual method. As soon as 
the operation is properly performed, the depredating in- 
sect perceives that the prepared specimen is no longer 
food for it, and will for ever cease to attack it. But, then, 
every part must have received the poison; otherwise those 
parts where the poison has not reached will still be ex- 
posed to the enemy; and he will pass unhurt over the poi- 
soned parts, till he arrive at that part of your specimen 
which is still wholesome food for him. Now, the diffi- 
culty lies in applying the solution to very minute speci- 
mens, without injuring their appearance; and all that can 
be said is, to recommend unwearied exertion, which is 
sure to be attended with great skill, and great skill will 
insure surprising success. The result has been astonishing 
success, and a perfect conviction that there is no absolute 
and lasting safety for prepared specimens in zoology from 
the depredations of insects, except by poisoning every 
part of them with a solution of corrosive sublimate in al- 
cohol. I put a good large teaspoonful of well pounded 
corrosive sublimate into a wine-bottle full of alcohol. I 
let it stand over night, and the next morning draw it off 
into a clean bottle. When I apply it to black substances, 
and perceive that it leaves little white particles on them, 
I then make it weaker by adding alcohol. A black feather, 
dipped into the solution, and then dried, will be a very 
good test of the state of the solution. If it be too strong, 
it will leave a whiteness upon the feather. 
A preparation of arsenic is frequently used; but it is very 
dangerous, and sometimes attended with lamentable con- 
sequences. I knew a naturalist, by name Howe, in Cay- 
enne, in French Guiana, who had lost sixteen of his 
teeth. He kept them in a box, and showed them to me. 
On opening the lid: — “ These fine teeth,” said he, “once 
belonged to my jaws; they all dropped out by my making 
use of the savon arsenetique for preserving the skins of 
animals. I take this opportunity of remarking that it is 
my firm conviction, that the arsenetical soap can never 
be used with any success, if you wish to restoi'e the true 
form and figure to a skin. 
I fear that your correspondent may make use of tight 
boxes and aromatic atmospheres, and still, in the end, not 
be completely successful in preserving his specimens from 
the depredation of insects. The tight box and aromatic 
atmosphere will certainly do a great deal for him; but they 
are liable to fail, for this obvious reason, viz. that they do 
not render, for ever, absolutely baneful and abhorrent to 
the depredator, that which in itself is nutritious and grate- 
ful to him. In an evil hour, through neglect in keeping 
up a poisoned atmosphere, the specimens collected by 
your correspondent’s industry, and prepared by his art, 
and which ought to live, as it were, for the admiration of 
future ages, may fall a prey to an intruding and almost in- 
visible enemy: so that, unless he apply the solution of cor- 
rosive sublimate in alcohol, he is never perfectly safe from 
a surprise. I have tried a decoction of aloes, wormwood, 
and walnut leaves, thinking they would be of service, on 
account of their bitterness. The trial completely failed. 
[Ib. 
