STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 119 



testicles of the male, will be found near the kidneys. Also date, locality, 

 name, collector, etc. 



When a bird is shot, all large holes must be plugged with cotton or 

 paper, and this also inserted in the month and throat, so as to prevent the 

 flow of blood or other fluids. Blood on the feathers may be absorbed 

 by sprinkling with plaster of Paris, ashes, dust, or sand, shaking off" all 

 that does not stick; then make a cone of paper large enough to put the 

 bird in, head down, and to twist up the other end over it, taking care 

 not to injure the tail feathers. This will secure the smoothness of the 

 feathers when the body stiftens. 



In cool weather it is best to postpone skinning for twelve to twent}^- 

 four hours, in order to allow the blood to coagulate, so that it will not 

 flow so freel}^, and the fat hardening also gives less trouble. Some use a 

 ring of paper pinned around the body to obtain its exact girth, so that 

 it can be stuffed out to the same dimensions afterwards. 



Before skinning, put fresh plugs in the mouth, nostrils, and large shot 

 holes; take the measurements and notes required; then make an incision 

 from the breastbone down to the tail, not so deep as to 0])en the intesti- 

 nal cavity, and carefully separate the skin on each side, plugging or sew- 

 ing up an}' holes accidentally cut too deep. If blood or fluids run freely, 

 absorb them by some dry ashes, plaster, or paper, and use those so as to 

 protect the feathers, if necessary, keeping the fingers well powdered. 

 Separating the skin from one side, the leg is soon reached ; this must be 

 drawn out by the knee joint as far as it can, and the tendons cut where 

 they go towards the foot. Break off the bone within the skin, and having 

 freed that leg, treat the other in the same way. It is most convenient 

 in small birds to break these bones, and also those of the upper wing 

 joint, before beginning to skin, thus having the limbs less in the way. 



After the legs are freed, cut down to the tail, and separate from the 

 body, leaving some of the vertebra attached to support the feathers. 

 Remove the oil-glands above the tail carefully from the skin, then insert 

 the hook in the body and hang it up, head downwards. The skin is then 

 easily peeled otf' until the wings are reached, when it must be drawn to 

 one side until the broken end of the shoulder bones are reached, which 

 may be slipped through the muscles, and pulled out as far as possible. 

 The muscles must then be cut ofl', and this wing being freed, the same 

 process is used for the other. 



The skin then slips off easily as far as the head, and if large must 

 be supported, so that its weight may not stretch the neck. In draw- 

 ing it over the head be careful not to tear it, and use the finger nails 

 more than the knife. The ear membranes are easily drawn out with it, 

 and on reaching the eyes the attachment of the lids must be carefully 

 separated from the eyebq,ll, cutting so as to injure neither the lids nor 

 the eyeball, as the fluids escaping give trouble. Then cut off the back 

 part of the skull, remove the brains and the eyes, clean away all remains 

 of muscle, etc., from the skull, and sprinkle or smear the skin with arse- 

 nic. Fill the eye sockets, and other cavities about the head with cotton 

 or other stuffing, and draw the skin back to its original shape. If the 

 neck has dried during the operation, it will need moistening before retrac- 

 tion. 



The second joints of the wings now require cleaning from the muscles, 

 etc. This may be done in small birds by carefully drawing the skin 

 down over the bones, loosening it with the finger nails. Large birds, 

 however, need an incision under the wing, reaching the whole length of 

 the joint, which may be sewed up afterwards by a few stitches. Arsenic 



