HINTS FOR ORNITHOLOGICAL TRAVELLERS. 
A mixture of the three first ingredients is sufficient; and for 
small or thin-skinned specimens, a less quantity of arsenic is 
requisite. For such, one part or a little more of arsenic to three 
parts of soap will be about the necessary proportions. The salts of 
tartar, if allowed to come upon the feathers, will change the colours; 
and the above receipt is given as that used by Mr. Gould and other 
collectors abroad. 
The following is a receipt for a powder , which has been found to 
answer very well. 
Tobacco (rubbed to a powder, or Snuff) ) 
Burnt Alum I Equal parts. 
Black Pepper J 
And to every ounce in weight add about a third part of arsenic in powder. 
The best stuffing materials are tow or cotton : wool may be used, 
and generally fills most of the Australian skins ; but it is often 
greasy, and on that account objectionable. 
By a person at home, every work may be performed in the 
manner and with the materials we have now mentioned ; but every 
one will contrive little conveniences for himself, and fall into his 
own mode of working. To a person travelling abroad, every thing 
cannot always be at hand, and the less that can be carried the better: 
knives, scissors, preserving paste or powder, and a little cotton, are 
perhaps the most necessary. We have skinned many a specimen 
with a very ordinary knife alone, yet a few such as have been men- 
tioned may be useful for various purposes, and one need scarcely ever 
be at a loss. Scissors are convenient but not indispensable ; so are 
needles. Thread is more necessary, as it may be used to tie round 
the skin and keep it together in the want of any thing better. In 
the absence of arsenical paste or powder, tobacco or snuff may 
a most always he procured; and peppers, burnt alum, or arsenic 
alone, are all good substitutes. Salt or saltpetre should never be 
Tir/h : c T r ° Si ? sublimate > frequently recommended, 
d be carefully and sparingly used. If the solution is too 
SiHttle ’7, 11 T tted f0r m0Unting ’ ° r for an y purpose, is 
onlv use th f i 1Dt0 h ° leS aS tll0u = b burnt. We woiild 
only use this for strong or very greasy skins. For stuffing where 
mIT “onThiiardTi “ y ^ “*■“ “I ’ for “ * 
8 ’ 436 s P ecies > oakum answers very 
