C 302 ] 
XXVI. Four Letters from Mr. T. S. 
Kuckhan, to the Prefident and Me?nbers of 
dead Birds. 
Sir and Gentlemen, 
Read May 24, ✓"CONSIDERING the number of ver- 
tuofi, who apply themfelves to the 
collecting natural curiofities of the infeCt, bird, and 
beaft kinds, it is furprizing that fo few have endea- 
voured to difcover effectual means of preferving their 
curiofities, when collected ; one would imagine that 
thofe Gentlemen, in particular, who write on natural 
hiftory, would be exceedingly defirous of fuch effectual 
methods, which, if once difcovered and communi- 
cated to the public, would be the means of their re- 
ceiving many rare fubjedts, and evert non-defcripts 
from different p'rts of Afia, Africa, and America, 
which would afford infinite pleafure to naturalifts, 
and greatly encourage the ftudy of natural hiftory. 
But inftead of this, it is too common to fee people, for 
want of knowing better methods, perfevering in thofe 
which their own experience, and that of their ac- 
quaintance, daily convinces them are ineffectual : 
although they have the mortification of feeing their 
colleftions, which have been made with great trouble 
the Prefervation 
and 
