37 
This preparation to be kept for use in a jar which can be 
tightly closed, so as to prevent its drying. 
When used, a little of it is to be rubbed down with a brush 
into a small quantity of water, and then applied to the skin, 
which should be well stretched out; (but so as not to injure 
its shape.) Persons using this mrxture, will perceive, from the 
ingredients employed, that caution must be observed. If the 
skin to be preserved, be of a very large size, the proportion of 
chalk may be increased. In case the preceding preparation 
cannot be procured, the skin may be brushed over with corro- 
sive sublimate dissolved in spirits. The mouth, claws, &c. 
should be well anointed with spirits of turpentine, or oil of 
petroleum ; the skin then well dried, and rolled up for packing. 
BIRDS 2 
Should be carefully skinned, without soiling the plumage— 
Open them by a longitudinal incision from the breast bone to 
the vent, detach the skin as far back as the first joint of the 
wings, cut that joint and through the neck at its insertion into 
the thorax, draw forward the body, separating the skin, and 
continue the dissection, till nearly as much of the bone of the 
leg is removed as is surrounded with flesh, cut the bone through 
with a pair of scissors, and proceed in a similar manner with 
the wings, rolling the projecting extremities in some cotton and 
replacing them; remove the neck; and the brain, and eyes 
through the occipital hole, and preserve the skin as directed 
alzeady for quadrupeds. In skinning birds, some persons with 
good effect employ fine ground plaster of Paris, which they 
dust oyer any parts that are moist, and thus prevent the soiling 
of the plumage. This is afterwards shaken out; when dry, 
they may be folded up with safety, and packed, so as to be 
easily carried. When the nests’ are any{ way remarkable, 
it is desirable to have them, and when the eggs can be procured, 
and the species to which they belong correctly ascertained, 
they become highly interesting ; their contents should be blown 
out by a perforation made at each end. Small birds may also be 
preserved by putting them into spirits. 
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