536 



DUCK SHOOTING. 



also four of the secondary feathers whose quills come 

 in the line of the proposed cut, B. Never unjoint the 

 wing at A; it leaves a large knuckle which will con- 

 tinually get bruised and sore. No surgeon would am- 

 putate a leg or an arm at a joint. 



Having bared the part of feathers, make a cut on 

 the line B, from close to the junction of the little 

 thumb E, to the wing. If you cut on the line C, there 

 will be several secondary feathers left, and birds so 

 pinioned can often fly over a fence and for some dis- 

 tance. There is merely a skin over the two bones on 

 the line B, and but a trifling cut need be made. Then, 

 with a stout knife, cut the bones, taking care not to cut 

 the skin back of them. Turn up the ends of the bones ; 

 skin back to the dotted line D, thus leaving a flap to 

 turn over the amputation. Stitch this flap over the 

 wound with three or four stitches of sewing silk, no 

 cotton; bend down the little thumb with the silk so 

 that the scar will be protected, and let the bird go. 



Properly performed, there should be no loss of blood, 

 to speak of, and the wound will heal in three days. 

 I once pinioned twelve ducks inside an hour, and if 



