Natural History 353 



an idea that it is a very difficult thing. In a sense this 

 is true. It is so difficult to stuff a bird well, that not many 

 men in the world to-day can do it. As with all arts, there 

 can be but few masters. But the main process itself is 

 easy to learn ; and if the boy who tries to do it fails in making 

 a life-like bird of his specimen, he at least does three 

 things: he saves its beautiful plumage; he adds to his bird 

 acquaintance; and he gains a keener appreciation of the 

 work of others. 



While each taxidermist has his own methods, all agree 

 in the main. The directions here given are those, recom- 

 mended by good authorities, and that I have found most 

 practical in my own work. 



There are two ways of preserving a bird: 



(a) By making a skin. 



(b) By mounting the bird. 



MAKING A SKIN 



The first is removing and preserving the skin in such 

 a way that it may always serve to show what the bird's 

 plumage is like. Most naturalists prefer to keep their 

 specimens as skins, not only because it is easier and cheaper 

 to do so, but because then they take up less room, and the 

 skin may be properly mounted at any later time. 



These are the tools and materials used in making a 

 skin: 



A sharp knife, a pair of stout, short scissors, and a pair 

 of small forceps. (It is, however, quite possible to dispense 

 with all but the knife and scissors in making a bird skin. 

 I rarely use any tool but the scissors.) 



For materials you will need cotton wool, needle and 

 thread, arsenical soap (some naturaUsts prefer dry white 

 arsenic) and cornmeal (or fine hardwood sawdust). Some 



