C 3°5 ] 
nothing to do but fend by failors bound to different 
parts of the world, a few kegs of fpirits, and we 
lhall be fure of birds enough preferved in this 
manner; but then what becomes of their pro- 
portions, attitudes, graces, and in fhort, of every 
thing that gives them life and motion ? 
Another method is that of fkinning birds ; they had 
no other way in Germany and Holland, and it 
was generally pradtifed in France till very lately* 
when the method of preferving by allum, fait and 
pepper, was published and recommended, of which 
I have already given my opinion. Skinning, compared 
with the other methods which I have mentioned, is no 
bad way, but yet it is fubjedt to many objedtions: iff, 
there is a great difficulty in fkinning, elpecially fmall 
delicate birds, killed perhaps by large (hot * 2d* 
moft people will find it hardly poffible to reduce the 
fkins to their natural proportions and attitudes* par- 
ticularly the necks which arc often twice as long, 
when feparated from the vertebrae as before; 3<dly, the 
flefh and bones of the wings and rump muff, after 
all, be left with the fkin, and are as difficult to pre- 
ferve as any other parts of the body. However, thofe 
who chufe to continue this method will find their 
intereft in making ufe of the materials I fhall recom- 
mend by and by, when I come to treat of my 
method of prefervation, which I apprehend is more 
perfedt than any of thofe which I have mentioned, 
not only in point of prefervation, but alfo as it keeps 
the natural plumpnefs and proportions. Thefe par- 
ticulars I fhall referve for other letters, having al- 
ready made this too long, which I yet muff encreafe 
by begging the candour of the Society for both, 
Vol, LX. R r as 
