MATERIALS, ETC. 
15 
They may afterwards be skinned, as will be described here- 
after. Impure carbolic acid will answer as well as the 
refined, and it is much cheaper. 
The cost of this acid is trifling, and it will often prove 
beneficial in preserving birds in warm weather when they 
cannot be skinned immediately. But I would not advise 
its use in preserving birds when it can possibly be avoided, 
as it dulls the plumage, and is offensive in its odor in con- 
nection with the juices of the birds while they are being 
skinned. It is, perhaps, needless to add that this acid 
is a dangerous internal poison; it also burns the skin 
badly when allowed to come in contact with it, but all 
injurious effects may be removed by applying oil to the 
spot. 
As a collector walks much, he must have something on 
his feet that is easy and at the same time serviceable. I 
have found that in stony countries like New England the 
best things are canvas shoes that lace up in front, tightly 
about the ankles and over the instep, to prevent slipping up 
and down, which is the worst possible thing that could 
happen while on a long tramp ; the soles should be broad, 
so that the toes may have room enough without crowding. 
With such shoes I have found that I could walk farther 
than with anything else, and be less wearied in the end. 
If the feet are wet from walking in water, with canvas 
shoes on them they will soon dry, as the water will all run 
out upon walking a short time on dry ground. Anything 
that is water-proof will be much too heavy to travel in, 
besides being injurious to the feet. 
In sandy localities, or on marshes, or in winter when the 
snow covers the ground, Indian moccasons are the easiest 
and best things that can possibly be worn ; but in stony 
places they are not of sufficient thickness to protect the 
feet from receiving injury from the hard surface, other- 
wise they are exceedingly easy. They are not water-proof, 
