Taxidermy without a Teacher / Comprising a Complete Manual of Instruction for Preparing and Preserving Birds, Animals and Fishes

by Walter Porter Manton

Now we come to the

MATERIALS

required for stuffing. Cotton, tow, soft hay and excelsior are the best, but anything soft will do, except feathers, hair, or in fact any animal substance, as they act merely as assistants to the taxidermist's great enemies—the bugs (Tineidæ and Dermestidæ).

POISON

is used to preserve the skins. But as everything of that description is dangerous for young and inexperienced persons to handle, I strongly recommend the following preparation, and guarantee it to preserve their first efforts until they become an eye-sore, and are finally thrown into the fire with much disgust.

I.

Pulverized Alum.
Common Salt. Equal parts.
Mix.
Label: Salt and Alum.

The best and only safe preparation is:—