56 FIELD ORNITHOLOGY part i 



Fatness. — Fat is a substance abhorred of all dissectors ; always 

 in the way, embarrassing operations and obscuring observations ; 

 while it is seldom worth examination after its structure has once 

 been ascertained. It is particularly obnoxious to the taxidermist, 

 since it is liable to soil the plumage during skinning, and also to 

 soak into the feathers afterwards ; and greasy birdskins are never 

 pleasing objects. A few birds never seem to have any fat ; some, 

 like petrels, are| always oily; at times, especially in the indolent 

 autumn season, Avhen birds have little to do but feed, the great 

 majority acquire an emhonpoint doubtless to their own satisfaction, 

 but to the taxidermist's discomfort. In all such cases gypsum 

 should be lavishly employed. Strew plaster plentifully from the 

 first cut all through the operation ; dip 3'our fingers in it frequently, 

 as well as your instruments. This invaluable absorbent will deal 

 with most of the running fat. When the skin is coinpletely 

 reversed, remove as much of the solid fat as possible ; it is generally 

 found occupying the areolar tissue of particular definite tracts, and 

 most of it may usually be peeled or flaked oft' in considerable masses. 

 Since the soft and oozy state of most birds' fat at ordinary temper- 

 atures may be much improved by cold, it will be well to leave your 

 birds on ice for a while before skinning, if you have the means and 

 time to do so ; the fat will become quite firm. There is a device 

 for preventing or at any rate lessening the soiling of the plumage so 

 apt to occur along the line of incision ; it is invaluable in cases of 

 white plumage. Take a strip of cloth of greater width than the 

 length of the feathers, long enough to go up one side of the cut and 

 down the other. SeAV this closely to the skin all around the cut, 

 and it will form an apron to guard the plumage. You will too 

 frequently find that a bird, prepared without soiling and laid away 

 apparently safe, afterwards grows greasy ; if the plumage is white, 

 it soon becomes worse than ever by showing dust that the grease 

 catches. Perhaps the majority of such birds in our museums show 

 the dirty streak along the belly. The reason is, that the grease has 

 oozed out along the cut, or wherever else the skin has been broken, 

 and infiltrated the plumage, being drawn up apparently by capillary 

 attraction, just as a lampwick sucks up oil. Sometimes, without 

 obviously soiling the plumage, the grease will run along the thread 

 that ties the label, and make a uniformly transparent piece of oil- 

 paper. I have no remedy to offer for this gradual infiltration of 

 the plumage. It will not wash out, even with soap and water. 

 Possibly careful and persistent treatment with ether might be 

 effective, but I am not prepared to say it would be. Eemoval of 

 all fat that can l»e got off during skinning, with a liberal use of 

 plaster, will in a measure prevent a difficulty that remains incurable. 



Bloodstains, etc. — In the nature of the case, this complication 



