Chapter X: Part 10

Here is now before you the skin without loss of any feathers, and all the flesh, fat and uncleaned bones out of it, except the middle joint of the wings, one bone of the thighs, and the fleshy root of the tail. The extreme point of the wing is very small, and has no flesh on it, comparatively speaking, so that it requires no attention except touching it with the solution from the outside. Take all in the flesh from the remaining joint of the wing, and tie a thread about four inches long to the end of it; touch all with the solution, and put the wing-bone back into its place. In baring this bone you must by no means pull the skin; you would tear it to pieces beyond all doubt, for the ends of the long feathers are attached to the bone itself; you must push off the skin with your thumb-nail and forefinger. Now skin the thigh quite to the knee; cut away all flesh and tendons, and leave the bone; form an artificial thigh round it with cotton; apply the solution and draw back the skin over the artificial thigh: the same to the other thigh.

Lastly, proceed to the tail: take out the inside of the oil-gland, remove all the remaining flesh from the root till you see the ends of the tail-feathers; give it the solution and replace it. Now take out all the cotton which you have been putting into the body from time to time to preserve the feathers from grease and stains. Place the bird upon your knee on its back; tie together the two threads which you had fastened to the end of the wing-joints, leaving exactly the same space betwixt them as your knowledge in anatomy informs you existed there when the bird was entire; hold the skin open with your finger and thumb, and apply the solution to every part of the inside. Neglect the head and neck at present; they are to receive it afterwards.

Fill the body moderately with cotton, lest the feathers on the belly should be injured whilst you are about the following operation. You must recollect that half of the thigh, or in other words, one joint of the thigh-bone, has been cut away. Now, as this bone never moved perpendicular to the body, but, on the contrary, in an oblique direction, of course, as soon as it is cut off, the remaining part of the thigh and leg having nothing now to support them obliquely, must naturally fall to their perpendicular. Hence the reason why the legs appear considerably too long. To correct this, take your needle and thread, fasten the end round the bone inside, and then push the needle through the skin just opposite to it. Look on the outside, and after finding the needle amongst the feathers, tack up the thigh under the wing with several strong stitches. This will shorten the thigh and render it quite capable of supporting the weight of the body without the help of wire. This done, take out every bit of cotton except the artificial thighs, and adjust the wing-bones (which are connected by the thread) in the most even manner possible, so that one joint does not appear to lie lower than the other; for unless they are quite equal, the wings themselves will be unequal when you come to put them in their proper attitude. Here, then, rests the shell of the poor hawk, ready to receive from your skill and judgment the size, the shape, the features and expression it had, ere death and your dissecting hand brought it to its present still and formless state. The cold hand of death stamps deep its mark upon the prostrate victim. When the heart ceases to beat, and the blood no longer courses through the veins, the features collapse, and the whole frame seems to shrink within itself. If then you have formed your idea of the real appearance of the bird from a dead specimen, you will be in error. With this in mind, and at the same time forming your specimen a trifle larger than life, to make up for what it will lose in drying, you will reproduce a bird that will please you.

It is now time to introduce the cotton for an artificial body by means of the little stick like a knitting-needle; and without any other aid or substance than that of this little stick and cotton, your own genius must produce those swellings and cavities, that just proportion, that elegance and harmony of the whole, so much admired in animated nature, so little attended to in preserved specimens. After you have introduced the cotton, sew up the orifice you originally made in the belly, beginning at the vent. And from time to time, till you arrive at the last stitch, keep adding a little cotton in order that there may be no deficiency there. Lastly, dip your stick into the solution, and put it down the throat three or four times, in order that every part may receive it.

When the head and neck are filled with cotton quite to your liking, close the bill as in nature. A little bit of bees' wax at the point of it will keep the mandibles in their proper place. A needle must be stuck into the lower mandible perpendicularly. You will shortly see the use of it. Bring also the feet together by a pin, and then run a thread through the knees, by which you may draw them to each other as near as you judge proper. Nothing now remains to be added but the eyes. With your little stick make a hollow in the cotton within the orbit, and introduce the glass eyes through the orbit. Adjust the orbit to them as in nature, and that requires no other fastener.

Your close inspection of the eyes of animals will already have informed you that the orbit is capable of receiving a much larger body than that part of the eye which appears within it when in life. So that, were you to proportion your eye to the size the orbit is capable of receiving, it would be far too large. Inattention to this has caused the eyes of every specimen in the best cabinets of natural history to be out of all proportion. To prevent this, contract the orbit by means of a very small delicate needle and thread at that part of it farthest from the beak. This may be done with such nicety that the stitch cannot be observed; and thus you have the artificial eye in true proportion.

After this touch the bill, orbits, feet and former oil-gland at the root of the tail with the solution, and then you have given to the hawk everything necessary, except attitude and a proper degree of elasticity, two qualities very essential.

Procure any common ordinary box, fill one end of it about three-fourths up to the top with cotton, forming a sloping plane. Make a moderate hollow in it to receive the bird. Now take the hawk in your hands and, after putting the wings in order, place it in the cotton with its legs in a sitting posture. The head will fall down. Never mind. Get a cork and run three pins into the end, just like a three-legged stool. Place it under the bird's bill, and run the needle which you formerly fixed there into the head of the cork. This will support the bird's head admirably. If you wish to lengthen the neck, raise the cork by putting more cotton under it. If the head is to be brought forward, bring the cork nearer to the end of the box. If it requires to be set backwards on the shoulders, move back the cork.

As in drying the back part of the neck will shrink more than the fore part, and thus throw the beak higher than you wish it to be, putting you in mind of a stargazing horse, prevent this fault by tying a thread to the beak and fastening it to the end of the box with a pin or needle. If you choose to elevate the wings, do so, and support them with cotton; and should you wish to have them particularly high, apply a little stick under each wing, and fasten the end of them to the side of the box with a little bees' wax.

If you would have the tail expanded, reverse the order of the feathers, beginning from the two middle ones. When dry, replace them in their true order, and the tail will preserve for ever the expansion you have given it. Is the crest to be erect? Move the feathers in a contrary direction to that in which they lie for a day or two, and it will never fall down after.

Place the box anywhere in your room out of the influence of the sun, wind and fire; for the specimen must dry very slowly if you wish to reproduce every feature. On this account the solution of corrosive sublimate is uncommonly serviceable; for at the same time that it totally prevents putrefaction, it renders the skin moist and flexible for many days. While the bird is drying, take it out, and replace it in its position once every day. Then, if you see that any part begins to shrink into disproportion, you can easily remedy it.

The small covert-feathers of the wings are apt to rise a little, because the skin will come in contact with the bone which remains in the wing. Pull gently the part that rises with your finger and thumb for a day or two. Press the feathers down. The skin will adhere no more to the bone, and they will cease to rise.

Every now and then touch and retouch all the different parts of the features in order to render them distinct and visible, correcting at the same time any harshness or unnatural risings or sinkings, flatness or rotundity. This is putting the last finishing hand to it.

In three or four days the feet lose their natural elasticity, and the knees begin to stiffen. When you observe this, it is time to give the legs any angle you wish, and arrange the toes for a standing position, or curve them to your finger. If you wish to set the bird on a branch, bore a little hole under each foot a little way up the leg; and having fixed two proportional spikes on the branch, you can, in a moment, transfer the bird from your finger to it, and from it to your finger at pleasure.

When the bird is quite dry, pull the thread out of the knees, take away the needle, etc., from under the bill, and all is done. In lieu of being stiff with wires, the cotton will have given a considerable elasticity to every part of your bird; so that, when perching on your finger, if you press it down with the other hand, it will rise again. You need not fear that your hawk will alter, or its colours fade. The alcohol has introduced the sublimate into every part and pore of the skin, quite to the roots of the feathers. Its use is twofold: firstly, it has totally prevented all tendency to putrefaction; and thus a sound skin has attached itself to the roots of the feathers. You may take hold of a single one, and from it suspend five times the weight of the bird. You may jerk it; it will still adhere to the skin, and after repeated trials often break short. Secondly, as no part of the skin has escaped receiving particles of sublimate contained in the alcohol, there is not a spot exposed to the depredation of insects: for they will never venture to attack any substance which has received corrosive sublimate.

You are aware that corrosive sublimate is the most fatal poison to insects that is known. It is anti-putrescent; so is alcohol; and they are both colourless, of course; they cannot leave a stain behind them. The spirit penetrates the pores of the skin with wonderful velocity, deposits invisible particles of the sublimate and flies off. The sublimate will not injure the skin, and nothing can detach it from the parts where the alcohol has left it. [Footnote: All the feathers require to be touched with the solution, in order that they may be preserved from the depredation of the moth. The surest way of proceeding is to immerse the bird in the solution of corrosive sublimate, and then dry it before you begin to dissect it.]

Furs of animals immersed in this solution will retain their pristine brightness and durability in any climate.

Take the finest curled feather from a lady's head, dip it in the solution, and shake it gently till it be dry; you will find that the spirit will fly off in a few minutes, not a curl in the feather will be injured, and the sublimate will preserve it from the depredation of the insect.

Perhaps it may be satisfactory to add here that some years ago I did a bird upon this plan in Demerara. It remained there two years. It was then conveyed to England, where it stayed five months, and returned to Demerara. After being four years more there it was conveyed back again through the West Indies to England, where it has now been near five years, unfaded and unchanged.

On reflecting that this bird has been twice in the Temperate and Torrid Zone, and remained some years in the hot and humid climate of Demerara, only six degrees from the line, and where almost everything becomes a prey to the insect, and that it is still as sound and bright as when it was first done, it will not be thought extravagant to surmise that this specimen will retain its pristine form and colours for years after the hand that stuffed it has mouldered into dust.

I have shown this art to the naturalists in Brazil, Cayenne, Demerara, Oroonoque and Rome, and to the royal cabinets of Turin and Florence. A severe accident prevented me from communicating it to the cabinet of Paris, according to my promise. A word or two more, and then we will conclude.

A little time and experience will enable you to produce a finished specimen: "Mox similis volucri, mox vera volucris." If your early performance should not correspond with your expectations, do not let that cast you down. You cannot become an adept all at once. The poor hawk itself, which you have just been dissecting, waited to be fledged before it durst rise on expanded pinion, and had parental aid and frequent practice ere it could soar with safety and ease beyond the sight of man.

Little more remains to be added, except that what has been penned down with regard to birds may be applied in some measure to serpents, insects and four-footed animals.

Should you find these instructions too tedious, let the wish to give you every information plead in their defence. They might have been shorter; but Horace says, by labouring to be brief you become obscure.

If by their means you should be enabled to procure specimens from foreign parts in better preservation than usual, so that the naturalist may have it in his power to give a more perfect description of them than has hitherto been the case; should they cause any unknown species to be brought into public view, and thus add a little more to the page of natural history, it will please me much. But should they unfortunately tend to cause a wanton expense of life; should they tempt you to shoot the pretty songster warbling near your door, or destroy the mother as she is sitting on the nest to warm her little ones, or kill the father as he is bringing a mouthful of food for their support--Oh, then! deep indeed will be the regret that I ever wrote them.

Adieu,

CHARLES WATERTON.

FINIS

GLOSSARY

Acaiari, _the resinous gum of
the hiawa-tree_.
Acouri, _one of the agutis_;
a rodent about the size of a rabbit.
Acuero, _a species of palm_.
Æta, _a palm of great size_;
it may reach a hundred feet
before the leaves begin.
Ai, _the three-toed sloth_.
Albicore, _a fish closely related to
the tunny_.
Anhinga, _the darter or snake-bird_;
a cormorant-like bird.
Ant-bear, _now called the ant-eater_.
Ara, _a macaw_.
Ara, Scarlet, _the scarlet macaw_.

Bisa, _one of the Saki monkeys_.

Cabbage Mountain, _one of the most
beautiful of the palm-trees_.
Camoudi, _the anaconda._
Campanero, _the bell-bird._
Caprimulgus, _one of the goat-suckers._
Cassique, _a bird of the hang-nest
family._
Cayman, _an alligator, as here used._
Cotingas, _chatterers._
Couguar, _the puma._
Coulacanara, _the boa-constrictor._
Courada, _the white mangrove tree._
Crabier, _the boat-bill--a small heron._
Crickets, _cicadas._
Cuia, _one of the Trojans._
Curlew, Scarlet, _the scarlet ibis._

Dolphin, _a coryphene--a true fish--not
a cetacean._

Guana, _the iguana lizard._

Hannaquoi, _one of the curassows._
Houtou, _one of the motmots._
Humming-bird Ara or Karabimiti,
_the crimson topaz._

Jacamar, _Jacana_, as anglicized--_the
spur-winged waterhen._

Labba, _a rodent allied to the
cavies._

Naudapoa, _an ibis._

Patasa, _unidentified._
Phaeton, _the tropic bird._
Pi-pi-yo, _unidentified._
Porcupine, _the tree-porcupine._

Quake, _a basket of open-work, very
elastic and expansive._

Redstart, _quite distinct from the
English redstart._

Sacawinki, _one of the squirrel
monkeys._
Sangre-do-buey, _the scarlet tanager._

Tangara, _now called tanager. See
Sangre-do-buey._

Waracaba, _the trumpeter._
Whip-poor-will, _one of the goat-suckers._
Who-are-you? _one of the goat-suckers._
Willy-come-go, _one of the goat-suckers._
Work-away, _one of the goat-suckers._

Yawaraciri, _one of the blue
creepers._

ACAIARI
Ai, _see_ Sloths
Alligators
American cities,
classical names of
American ladies,
praise of;
their attire
American manners
Ant-bears
Ant-eating birds
Antigua
Ants;
an ingredient of wourali poison;
nests of
Apoura-poura, River
Ara (macaw)
Armadillo
Arrowroot,
wild
Arrows, Indian
Arthur, King
Asses,
effect of wourali poison on
Aura vulture

Banks, Sir Joseph
Barbadoes
Basseterre
Bête-rouge
Birds, Demeraran;
Brazilian,
Bitterns
Blow-pipe, Indian
Boa-constrictor
Boclora
Bois immortel
Bow, Indian
Broadway
Bucaniers
Buffalo
Bug,
encounter with a
Buonaparte, Prince Charles
Bush-master
Bush-rope

Camoudi snake
Campanero
Canadians characterised
Caprimulgus,
_see_ Goat-suckers
Caps,
a diatribe against
Cassava
Cassique
Castries
Cayenne
Cayman;
expedition in search of;
fishing for;
ridden by author
Chegoe
Clove-trees
Cock-of-the-rock
Constable rock
Coral snake
Cotingas
Couguar
Coulacanara snake,
capture of a
Counacouchi,
_see_ Bush-master
Coushie-ant
Cuia
Curlew, scarlet
Custom House difficulties

Demerara,
falls of the River
potentialities of the
colony
_Deserted Village_, Goldsmith's,
quoted
Dog,
effect of wourali poison on a;
probably not native to Guiana
Dolphin
Dominica

Eagle,
white-headed
Edmonstone, Charles
Edmonstone, Robert
Egret
Erie Canal;
Lake
Essequibo river;
falls of the;
scenery
Europe,
future American independence of

Fever,
treatment of
Fig-tree,
wild
Fire-fly
Fish, Demeraran
Fishing, Indian method of,
Flying-fish,
Forest-trees, Demeraran;
destruction of North American,
Fort St. Joachim,
Fowl,
effect of wourali poison on a,
Frigate pelican,

Goat-suckers;
superstitious fear of,
Grand gobe-mouche,
Gross-beak,
Guadalope,
Guiana,
future of;
bird's-eye view of,

Hannaquoi,
Hermit,
a white,
Hia-hia,
_History of Brazil_, Southey's,
Horned screamer,
Houtou,
Howling monkey,
_see_ Monkeys
Hudson,
journey up the,
Hugues, Victor,
Humming-birds,

Ibibirou,
Impostor,
an Indian,
Indians;
mode of life;
religion,
_See also_ Macoushi Indians
India-rubber,
Inn-album,
inscription in an,
Insects, Demeraran,
Irish emigrants,

Jabiru,
Jacamar,
Jaguar,
Jay, Guianan,
Jesuits,
expulsion of the,

Kearney, Dennis,
Kessi-kessi paroquet,
Kingfishers,
King of the vultures,

Labarri snake,
La Gabrielle,
national plantation at,
Land-tortoise,
Lizards,

Maam,
_see_ Tinamou
Macoushi Indians;
their methods of hunting;
trick played by one on the author,
Manikins,
Maroudis,
Martin, M.,
Martinico,
Metallic-cuckoo,
Mibiri Creek,
Mines in Guiana,
Monkeys;
red, or howling;
a specimen with Grecian features,
Monteiro,
Montreal,
Mora-tree,
Museum at Philadelphia,

New Amsterdam,
New York,
Niagara,
Falls of,
Nobrega, Father,

Olinda;
botanic garden at,
_Ornithology of the United States_,
Wilson's,
Otters,
Owl,
a crab-eating,
Ox,
effect of wourali poison on an,

Pacou,
Paramaribo,
Parasitic plants,
Parima, Lake,
Park, Mungo,
Parrots,
Partridge,
Peccari,
Pelican,
Percy, Earl,
Pernambuco;
environs,
Petrel,
stormy,
Philadelphia,
Phaeton,
Pi-pi-yo,
Pombal,
Preservation of colours of toucan's bill;
of quadrupeds;
of zoological specimens generally;
of birds,
Purple-heart,

Quadrupeds,
forest,
Quashi, Daddy,
Quebec,
Quiver, Indian,

Rattlesnake,
Red-headed finch,
Red monkey,
_see_ Monkeys
Redstart,
Rhinoceros-beetle,
Rice-bird,
Roseau,
Rubber-tree,

Saba,
St. John's,
St. Lucie,
St. Pierre,
Saintes, the,
Sangre-de-buey,
Saratoga,
Savanna, a Demerara,
Slavery in Demerara;
in West Indies,
Slaves,
encounter with runaway,
Sloths;
three-toed, or ai;
two-toed,
Smoking,
Snakes;
hunting,
Spice plantations,
Spikes, poisoned,
Stabroek,
Southey, Robert,
Sun-bird,
Superstition,
reflections on,
Surinam,

Tangaras,
Tapir,
Tarbet, misadventures of Mr.,
Tauronina,
Taxidermy,
_see_ Preservation
Ticks,
Ticonderoga,
Tiger,
_see_ Jaguar
Tiger-bird,
small,
Tinamou,
Toucans,
Travellers,
advice to,
Travellers' tales,
Troupiales,
Troy,
Trumpeters,
Turtle,

United States,
progress of the,
Utica,

Vampires,
Vanilla,
Vultures,

Wallaba-tree,
Wasps,
Water-hens,
Water-mamma,
Weapons, Indian,
Whip-poor-will,
_see_ Goat-suckers
Whipsnake,
Wild boars,
hunting,
Wild man of the woods, a,
Wilson, Alexander,
Woodpeckers,
Wound,
treatment of a,
Wourali poison;
its effects;
ingredients;
preparation;
method of using:
antidotes;
experiments in England,

Yabahou,
the evil spirit,
Yawaraciri,

End of Project Gutenberg's Wanderings in South America, by Charles Waterton