Cut off a sufficient portion of the occiput to expose 
the base of the brain, and remove the tongue, floor 
of the mouth, and the plug of cotton wool previously 
introduced. The neck and body thus separated from 
the cranium should be laid aside, but not thrown 
away. Now take hold of the skull, and with the 
nail scissors snick away the back portion of the 
palate, being careful not to interfere with the articu- 
lation of the lower jaw. You will then be able to 
extract the brain by means of the scoop. | 
The skin being now reversed this is the most 
‘convenient time to remove all fat, and any bits of 
flesh which adhere to it. In scraping off the fat, 
etc., it will be found easier to work upwards from 
the tail, as the roots of the feathers lie in that direc- 
tion. When divesting the tail of the flesh, care 
must be taken not to cut through the root, or the 
feathers will fall out. 
Having thoroughly cleaned the skull, paint it, 
and also the skin of the head and neck, with a pre- 
Servative, and then fill up the eye-orbits with cotton 
wool, and the cavity of the skull with chopped tow. 
In the case.of large birds the cheeks also will require 
stuffing. 
Some Taxidermists use putty for filling the 
orbits, but it cannot be recommended, particularly 
with birds of delicate plumage, as the oil of the 
putty is liable to cause a disagreeable stain 
eventually which cannot be easily removed. 
Now with the string attached to the bill gently 
draw back the skull into its proper place. This will 
2 
