First a disclaimer: I know next to nothing about natural history collections, so I may not be discribing the problem correctly, but I promised to try to track down some help! A new science museum is starting up at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. They are using collections that were already in existence, either in private hands or in a now-defunct natural history museum in another part of the state. We don't know exactly how old many of the specimens are, which means we don't know which processes were used in preserving them. The current most urgent need for conservation is a leatherback turtle specimen. It measures approximately 5'x4', and is reputed to be from the 19th century. There are cracks in the carapace, the stuffing (looks like straw to me) is starting to work its way out through the edges of the feet, and the head and some other parts of the body look as if they were varnished or painted with a very shiney black substance that does not look as if it belongs on the turtle. The professor in charge of the project does not want to do further damage to the specimen, either through improper treatment or further neglect (the collection had been in poor storage conditions for a while), but he would like to provide basic conservation so that the turtle can be displayed. Does anyone out there have basic general suggestions? Whom should he contact? ( As always with a new, very small museum, the budget is practically nonexistent.) Thanks for any help you can provide! --Julia Hunter, Manager Cultural Resources Information Center Maine State Museum State House Station #83 Augusta, ME 04333-0083 (207) 287-5794 [log in to unmask]