smoothly on it, and let it dry; if the colour of the wood show through, paste a second paper over it. When the paper is dry, get ready any bird that you would represent, and draw the outline as exact as you can on the papered panel. You then paint the ground-work, stump of a tree, the bill and legs, their proper colour, with water-colours, leaving the body to be covered with its own natural feathers. In the space you have left for the body, you lay on very thick gum water, letting each coat dry before you lay on another, and so continuing until the gum is as thick as a shilling. Then take the feathers off the bird; and, as you proceed, draw a camels'-hair pencil, dipped in gum water, over the coat of gum that you have laid on the paper, that it may more readily adhere. As you strip the bird, you must fix the feathers in their proper places on the board, and you shave the shafts or stems of the larger feathers, that they may lay flat. The most ready way to perform the operation, is to provide yourself with a pair of steel pliars to take up and lay on the feathers with. You should prepare some small leaden weights to lay on the feathers, that they may more readily adhere to, and lay flat on, the gum. The part where the eye is must be supplied by a small piece of paper, coloured and shaped like one; or you may, probably, be able to get a glass bead that will answer the purpose better. In order that the feathers may lay smooth and regular, when the whole is perfectly dry, lay a book, or a flat board, with a weight on it.

The Art of Bronzing.

BRONZING is that process by which figures of plaster-ofparis, wood, &c. are made to have the appearance of copper or brass. The method is as follows:

When the copper

Dissolve copper filings in aqua fortis. has impregnated the acid, pour off the solution, and put into it some pieces of iron, or iron filings. The effect of this will be to sink the powder to the bottom of the acid. Pour off the liquor, and wash the powder in successive quantities of fresh water. When the powder is dry, it is to be rubbed on the figure with a soft cloth, or piece of leather;

but observe, that previously to the application of the bronze powder, a dark blackish sort of green is first to be laid on the figure and if you wish the powder to adhere stronger, mix it with gum water, lay it on like paint, with a camels'hair brush, or previously trace the parts to be bronzed with gold size, and when nearly dry, rub the powder over it.

Method of taking the Impression of Butterflies on Paper.

CLIP the wings off the butterfly, lay them on clean, in the form of a butterfly when flying. Spread some thick clean gum-water on another piece of paper, press it on the wings, and it will take them up; lay a piece of white paper over it, and rub it gently with your finger, or the smooth handle of a knife. The bodies are to be drawn in the space which you leave between the wings.

To soften Horn.

To one pound of wood-ashes, add two pounds of quick lime; put them into a quart of water. Let the whole boil till reduced to one-third. Then dip a feather in, and if, on drawing it out, the plume should come off, it is a proof that it is boiled enough; if not, let it boil a little longer. When it is settled, filter it off, and in the liquor thus strained put in shavings of horn. Let them soak for three days; and, first anointing your hands with oil, work the horn into a mass, and print or mould it into any shape you please.

To make Moulds of Horn.

If you wish to take the impression of any coin, medal, &c., previously anoint it with oil; then lay the horn shavings over it in its softened state. When dry, the impression will be sunk into the horn; and this will serve as a mould to re-produce, either by plaster-of-paris, putty and glue, or isinglass and ground egg-shells, the exact resemblance of the coin or medal.

To cast Figures in Imitation of Ivory.

MAKE isinglass and strong brandy into a paste, with powder of egg-shells, very finely ground. You may give it what colour you please; but cast it warm into your mould, which you previously oil over. Leave the figure in the mould till dry, and you will find, on taking it out, that it bears a very strong resemblance to ivory.

To extract the Silver out of a Ring that is thick gilded, so that the Gold may remain entire.

TAKE a silver ring that is thick gilded. Make a little hole through the gold into the silver; then put the ring into aqua-fortis, in a warm place: it will dissolve the silver, and the gold will remain whole.

To soften Iron or Steel.

EITHER of the following simple methods will make iron or steel as soft as lead:

1. Anoint it all over with tallow; temper it in a gentle charcoal fire, and let it cool of itself.

2. Take a little clay, cover your iron with it, temper it in a charcoal fire.

3. When the iron or steel is red hot, strew hellebore on it. 4. Quench the iron or steel in the juice or water of common beans.

To take a Plaster-of-Paris Cast from a Person's

Face.

THE person must lie on his back, and his hair be tied behind. Into each nostril put a conical piece of paper, open at each end to allow of breathing. The face is to be lightly oiled over, and the plaster being properly prepared is to be poured over the face, (taking care that the eyes are shut) till it is a quarter of an inch thick. In a few minutes the plaster may be removed. In this a mould is to be formed, from which a second cast is to be taken, that will furnish casts exactly like the original.

Curious Experiment with a Glass of Water.

SATURATE a certain quantity of water in a moderate heat, with three ounces of sugar; and when it will no longer receive that, there is still room in it for two ounces of salt of tartar, and after that for an ounce and a drachm of green vitriol, nearly six drachms of nitre, the same of sal-ammoniac, two drachms and a scruple of alum, and a drachm and half of borax.

To make Artificial Coruscations.

THERE is a method of producing artificial coruscations, or sparkling fiery meteors, which will be visible, not only in the dark but at noon-day, and that from two liquors actually cold. The method is this:-Fifteen grains of solid phosphorus are to be melted in about a drachm of water; when this is cold, pour upon it two ounces of oil of vitriol; let these be shaken together in a large phial, and they will at first heat, and afterwards will throw up fiery balls in great number, which will adhere like so many stars to the sides of the glass, and continue burning a considerable time; after this, if a small quantity of oil of turpentine be poured in without shaking the phial, the mixture will of itself take fire, and burn very furiously. The vessels should be large and open at the top.

Another Method.

ARTIFICIAL Coruscations may also be produced by means of oil of vitriol and iron, in the following manner :- -Take a glass vessel capable of holding three quarts: put into this three ounces of oil of vitriol, and twelve ounces of water, then warming the mixture a little, throw in at several times. two ounces, or more, of clear iron filings: upon this, an ebullition and white vapours will arise; then present a lighted candle to the mouth of the vessel, and the vapour will take fire, and afford a bright fulmination or flash, like lightning. Applying the candle in this manner several times, the effect will always be the same; and sometimes the fire will fill the whole body of the glass, and even circulate to the bottom of the liquor; at others, it will only reach a

N

little way down its neck. The great caution to be used in making this experiment, is the making the vapour of a proper heat; for if made too cold few vapours will arise; and, if made too hot, they will arise too fast, and will only take fire in the neck of the glass, without any remarkable coruscation.

To produce Fire from Cane.

THE Chinese rattans, which are used, when split, for making cane chairs, will, when dry, if struck against each other, give fire; and are used accordingly in some places, in lieu of flint and steel.

To make an Eolian Harp.

THIS instrument may be made by almost any carpenter : it consists of a long narrow box of very thin deal, about five or six inches deep, with a circle in the middle of the upper side, of an inch and a half in diameter, in which are to be drilled small holes. On this side, sèven, ten, or more strings, of very fine gut, are stretched over bridges at each end, like the bridges of a fiddle, and screwed up or relaxed with screw pins. The strings must be all tuned to one and the same note, and the instrument be placed in some current of air, where the wind can pass over its strings with freedom. A window, of which the width is exactly equal to the length of the harp, with the sash just raised to give the air admission, is a proper situation. When the air blows upon these strings, with different degrees of force, it will excite different tones of sounds; sometimes the blast brings out all the tones in full concert, and sometimes it sinks them to the softest murmurs.

To show the Pressure of the Atmosphere.

INVERT a tall glass or jar in a dish of water, and place a lighted taper under it: as the taper consumes the air in the jar its pressure becomes less on the water immediately under the jar; while the pressure of the atmosphere on the water without the circle of the jar remaining the same, part