HINTS FOR ORNITHOLOGICAL TRAVELLERS. 
If circumstances permit, a stronger knife is preferable for large 
birds, and for most of the heavier sea fowl ; but for general use, 
one of middle size and strength will he found the most useful, and 
sufficiently powerful, if carefully used, to dissect the strongest 
specimen. 
The scissors should be dissecting scissors with lengthened handles, 
but the latter should be of considerable strength, those sold as dis- 
secting scissors being generally too weak in the handles, and too 
elastic when used to cut a strong bone. 
For scooping out the brain, a piece of iron with flattened spoon- 
shaped ends is commonly used, but we have found a quill, reed, or 
piece of flattened wood, a sufficient substitute, and do not recom- 
mend any thing for this purpose to be carried from home. 
Needles for stitching up the skin, or holes in it, should be slender, 
but of considerable length, so that they can be put in and out without 
the fingers interfering with the feathers. They should be from two 
to four inches in length ; and, I believe, are sold in shops under the 
name of “ silk darning needles.” Linen thread is best ; and, except 
for the smaller specimens, where it may be required finer, what is 
called unbleached thread is preferable. Silk thread of any kind 
does not answer well. 
The best preservative for the skin is arsenical soap ; and, for 
convenience of carriage, it may be made up in pots or in square 
cakes. When used, it should be wetted with a hog’s-hair brush, 
and laid over the skin, of the consistence of not very thick cream, 
pasting also the skull, rump, wing, and leg bones ; and, in foreign 
countries, a little put over the soft parts externally, the legs, bill, 
naked skin or wattles, has been found useful as a protection against 
insects. Mr. Gould used this paste successfully for all his collec- 
tions in Australia, and had it made up in cakes by Messrs. Wad- 
worth & Housley, chemists, Broad Street, Golden Square, London. 
The prepared stock may however run out; and the following is 
the receipt for the paste alluded to, which will be prepared by any 
chemist or druggist, or almost wherever the materials may be 
procured : — 
Camphor 5 ounces. 
Arsenic in powder 2 pounds. 
White soap ... 2 pounds. 
Salts of Tartar 12 ounces. 
Lime in powder 4 ounces. 
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