78 HOW TO MAKE A BIRDSKIN. 



cisely like bloodstains ; but it is to be remarked that these 

 stains are not seldom indelible, traces usually persisting in 

 white plumage at least in spite of our best endeavors. Eye- 

 water, insignificant as it may appear, is often a great annoy- 

 ance, this liquor is slightly glairy, or rather glassy, and puts a 

 sort of sizing on the plumage, difficult to efface the more so 

 since the soiling necessarily occurs in a conspicuous place, 

 where the plumage is too scanty and delicate to bear much 

 handling. It frequently happens that a lacerated eyeball, by 

 the elasticity of the coats, or adhesion of the lids, retains its 

 fluid till this is pressed out in manipulating the parts ; and 

 recollecting how the head lies buried in plumage at that stage 

 of the process, it will be seen that not only the head, but much 

 of the neck and even the breast may become wetted. If the 

 parts are extensively soaked, the specimen is almost irrepa- 

 rably damaged, if not ruined. Plaster will absorb the moist- 

 ure, but much of the sizing may be retained on the plumage ; 

 therefore, though the place seems simply wet, it should be thor- 

 oughly washed with water before the gypsum is applied. I 

 always endeavor to prevent the accident ; if I notice a lacer- 

 ated eyeball, I extract it before skinning, in the manner de- 

 scribed for woodpeckers. Miscellaneous stains, from the juices 

 of plants, etc., may be received ; all such are treated on gen- 

 eral principles. Blood on the beak and feet of rapacious birds, 

 mud on the bill and legs of waders, etc., etc., may be washed 

 off without the slightest difficulty. A. land bird that has fallen 

 in the water should be recovered as soon as possible, picked 

 up by the bill, and shaken ; most of the water will run off, un- 

 less the plumage is completely soaked. It should be allowed 

 to dry just as it is, without touching the plumage, before being 

 wrapped and bagged. If a bird fall in soft mud, the dirt 

 should be scraped or snapped off as far as this can be done 

 without plastering the feathers down, and the rest allowed to 

 dry ; it may afterward be rubbed fine and dusted off, when no 

 harm will ensue, except to white feathers which may require 

 washing. 



