2 
Fine sand smoothly laid in open spaces in woods, or in tracks leading 
to or from ponds or streams, will often indicate by the impressions left 
behind that there are those in the neighbourhood that yon would be 
pleased to become better acquainted with. 
The larger mammals in most cases can be obtained by placing 
strychnine on any bait laid for them. 
Skulls may be preserved by boiling, or cutting away the muscle and 
drying, or by putting in spirits ; but in every case care should be taken 
not to cut or mutilate the bone. 
In the case of antelopes and deer, when not convenient to take the 
whole skull, sufficient should be taken to keep the horns attached. 
When the skin of any of the larger mammals is to be preserved, the 
following mixture may be used: alum two parts, saltpetre one, to be 
pounded into a fine powder and well mixed; at the same time it must 
be stated that arsenic is the only true curative agent, all others only 
answer for a short time. Every portion of the skin must be covered 
while in a fresh state ; the skin may then be allowed to dry partially, and 
when folded up, the hair side should be placed outwards. 
Birds, 
In making collections of birds, the following notes should be taken :— 
Length from tip of bill to the end of tail, expanse of outstretched 
wings, length of wing from the carpal or first joint. If put down in this 
manner—20, 36, 10 (the figures representing inches), the first will stand 
for the length; the second, the outstretched wings; the third, length of 
wing from first joint. The colour of the eyes, feet, bill, or any other 
naked part; the sex, which should always be given from dissection; the 
date and locality. If the specimen is numbered and a note-book kept, 
the whole of these remarks should be recorded against the number in 
the book ; when no book is kept, they should be written upon a label 
and attached to the bird. 
For preserving the skins of birds there is nothing equal to arsenical 
soap, which may be made in the following manner:— 
Camphor, 5 ozs.; powdered arsenic, 2 lbs.; white soap, 2 lbs.; salt of 
tartar, 12 ozs .; powdered chalk, 4 ozs. Cut the soap into small slices, as 
thin as possible, put them into a pot over a gentle fire, with a very little 
water, stirring it often with a wooden spoon; when dissolved, add the 
salts of tartar and powdered chalk ; take it off the fire, add the arsenic, 
and stir the whole gently; lastly, put in the camphor, which must first 
be pounded in a mortar with a little spirits of wine. When the whole 
is properly mixed together, it will have the consistence of paste. It may 
be preserved in tin or earthenware pots, well closed and cautiously 
labelled. When wanted for use, it must be diluted with a little cold 
water to the consistence of clear broth ; the pot may be covered with a 
lid of pasteboard, having a hole for the passage of the brush by which 
the liquor is applied. This mixture must be applied to all parts of the 
inner surface of the skin. 
Plaster of Paris, powdered chalk, or whiting will be found of much use 
in skinning specimens that are very fat or bloody, by being applied to 
the inside of the skin, as they quickly absorb the grease and blood. 
Specimens of birds from all parts of the world are much wanted for 
