1 62 
On the Art of Taxidermy. 
[[May 
tow well, to give it its natural fulness of appearance; take care none of the 
feathers are stitched in, and as much stuffing must be laid below the wires in the 
body as above. Lay hold of the leg wires, and bend them from the inside to 
an angle of about 45° with the bird, which should now be set up, by drawing 
the leg wires through two holes made at a proper distance in a board, bending 
the wires over the board, as shewn in fig. 4 ; to keep them steady, set the bird 
to its proper shape, by bending the wires at the knee joints and the head wire, 
so as to make the bird appear in its natural state, supporting the wings by ban- 
dages of cloth till dry, (see b, fig. 4.) Should it be wished to give the bird the ap- 
pearance of flying, or spreading its wings, wires must be introduced through them, 
and fastened to the oval in the same manner as the legs. When the bird is dry it 
may be replaced on a proper piece of wood, and all the superfluous wire cut away. 
Should the head of the bird be loose on first setting up, pass a thread through the 
head with a needle, fixing it to the wire No. I, bent for this purpose, as shewn in 
fig. 4. 
A four-footed animal is prepared much in the same way: the head must he 
skinned as far as the lips, taking off the flesh on the skull, replacing the parts 
with proper stuffing. Have ready the wire No. 4, put the sharp end through the 
neck and head, the ovals will be opposite the shoulders and loins ; introduce 
wires up the legs, and fasten to the ovals ; the tail should also be skinned, and 
a wire put through it ; the animal is set up in the same manner as the bird. 
For large animals a bar of wood is necessary from the shoulders to the loins. 
. As carrying about a large collection, set up in this manner, would be exceed- 
ln gly inconvenient, it is found better for travellers altogether to omit the wires, 
merely stuffing the bird partially with the tow; in this manner a number of them 
can be carried in a box with proper divisions : they should be aired once or twice 
a week, and kept perfectly dr}’’; if possible, duplicates should be obtained of all 
the specimens ; it is customary to give the duplicates to the artist who arranges 
and sets them up, — a recompense of much greater estimation than usually ren- 
dered in money. 
The preparation hitherto used with most success is the French arsenical soap, 
for which the following is a receipt: — 
1st. White soap, 2 pounds. 
2nd. Salts of tartar, 12 ounces. 
3d. Lime in poivder, 4 ounces. 
4th. Arsenic in powder, 2 pounds. 
5th. Camphor, 5 ounces. 
The soap should be slowly melted on the fire, and the ingredients added in the 
order I have mentioned ; when to be used, take a small quantity and dilute it with 
water, till it have the consistence of broth, with which all the parts of an animal 
which can be come at, are to be anointed with a brush. I have found it of much 
use in preserving the hill and legs of a bird, to varnish them with oil of turpentine. 
The Munihars make very good glass eyes for birds ; sealing wax of the proper 
color is not a bad substitute : a person, however, fond of the pursuit, should furnish 
enameled ones of sorts. Where the birds are not set up with the wires, the eyes are 
not put in, the sockets being filled with tow. A memorandum, however, should be 
kept, stating the color, with any other remarks ; for which purpose the specimens 
should be all carefully numbered. 
The amateur should furnish himself with knives, files, hand-vice, pincers, and 
hammer, with an assortment of wire : for a bird the size of a partridge, wire 
an inch in diameter would be required ; and a bird 3 or 4 lbs. weight, double that 
size, or y 1 ^ of an inch ; the wire should be softened in the fire before being used, 
in order that it may easily bend. 
In the hills, as in the plains, a native can be hired, who for a trifling sum will 
iring in a number of specimens daily ; the rocket bird and pheasants will attract 
is particular attention ; and if the traveller wishes to add to his amusement, I am 
nc me to )elieve he would find his trouble repaid in making a collection of draw- 
ings, accompanied with descriptions, of fish, snakes, and a variety of the deer 
species, some ol gigantic size, found at the heads of the Ganges and Jumna. 
TT ~ „ , 1 remain, Sir, your very obedient servant, 
Upper Dooab, February 15, 1830. Z. 
