76 HOW TO MAKE A BIRDSKIN. 



few birds never seem to have any fat ; some, like petrels, are 

 always oily ; at times, especially in the indolent autumn season, 

 when birds have little to do but feed, the great majority ac- 

 quire an embonpoint 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 your fingers in it frequently, 

 as well as your instruments. The invaluable absorbent will 

 deal with most of the " running" fat. When the skin is com- 

 pletely 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 

 off in considerable masses. Since the soft and oozy state of 

 most birds' fat at ordinary temperatures may be much im- 

 proved by cold, it will repay you 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 your incision ; it is invaluable 

 in all 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. Sew 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, pre- 

 pared without soiling and laid away apparently safe, after- 

 wards 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 and wherever else the skin has 

 been broken, and infiltrated the plumage, being drawn up ap- 

 parently by capillary attraction, just as a lampwick "sucks 

 up " oil. Sometimes, witftout 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 



