Canada
April 16/53
Dear Dr. Harrison; Once more I am far behind with my correspondence. I am quite unavoidably so! I must thank you for your letter of
March 27 & paril 5th + 10th which were most welcome. I am now very keenly looking forward to the arrival of the 14
specimens which you despatched a short time back.
Lasten to say that specimens made up by JW are very nice as he was taught by my old friend the late major Allan
Brooks of Okanagan [ILLEGIBLE]. My [ILLEGIBLE] is that returns have not been forthcoming and [ILLEGIBLE].
Yes, gasoline used alone is explosive it is better not to use the Coloured (poisonous). Please allow me to give a few
more details relative to solvent & where it is for what it is worth. For ordinary [ILLEGIBLE] duck skins (not oiled
birds) wash in soap suds, rinse twice in clean water, out & immerse in the following
White gas (petrol) similar to that used by aircraft. --- 2 quarts
Carbon Tetrachloride --- 1 quart
Alcohol --- 1 Cup (Small)
Terpentine --- 3 Tablespoonfulls
As you are aware the carbon [ILLEGIBLE] is an excellent degreeser & cuts the infamability of the gasoline. Alcohol
increases penetration in the terpentine assists in retaining the lustre of the feathers. This mixture is very convenient &
you can immerse a specimen [ILLEGIBLE] in the solution for as long as desired. To complete squeeze out & put
specimen in a [ILLEGIBLE] pan of fine hardwood sawdust, rub gently onto feathers shake out [ILLEGIBLE] fluff out
with blower or hair dryer or reversed vacuum cleaner, find it better to remove crude oil with cheap [ILLEGIBLE]
solvent in a pail before [ILLEGIBLE].
I wish David all sorts of good luck & good collecting. Please give him my best wishes.
The redpolls have gone north from the [ILLEGIBLE] so it will be next winter before more specimens can be collected.[ILLEGIBLE] that the Editor of the "Field" is very anti collector judging from this article in a Jan. issue. Could not the
[ILLEGIBLE] exert enough pressure so that genuine scientific collections could be granted collecting permits as is done
in this country where every collector requires two sponsors?
Kindest regards and best wishes
Very Sincerely
Kenneth Racey
Dr. James Harrison
"Bowerwood House"
St. Botolph's Road,
Sevenoaks,Kent.
England.

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