82 HOW TO MAKE A BIRDSKIN. 



est scratch becomes a festering sore. Once poisoned in this 

 manner (and I speak from experience) , one is never afterward 

 able to skin any animal that has become in the least putrid, 

 without experiencing some of the symptoms above described. 

 Even birds that you handled before with impunity, you cannot 

 now skin without great care. The best remedy in this case is, 

 as the Hibernian would say, not to get poisoned, . . bathe the 

 parts frequently in cold water ; and, if chafed, sprinkle the parts 

 after bathing, with wheat flour. These remedies, if persisted in, 

 will effect a cure, if not too bad ; then, medical advice should 

 be procured without delay."* 



45. How TO MOUNT BIRDS. As some may not improbably 

 procure this volume with a reasonable expectation of being 

 taught to mount birds, I append the required instructions, 

 although the work only professes to treat of the preparation 

 of .skins for the cabinet. As a rule, the purposes of science 

 are best subserved by not mounting specimens ; for display, 

 tne only end attained, is not required. I would strongly advise 

 you not to mount your rarer or otherwise particularly valuable 

 specimens ; select for this purpose nice, pretty birds of no 

 special scientific value. The principal objections to mounted 

 birds are, that they take up altogether too much room, require 

 special arrangements for keeping and transportation, and can- 

 not be handled for study with impunity. Some might suppose 

 that a mounted bird would give a better idea of its figure and 

 general aspect than a skin ; but this is only true to a limited 

 extent. Faultless mounting is an art really difficult, acquired 

 by few ; the average work done in this line shows something 

 of caricature, ludicrous or repulsive, as the case may be. To 

 copy nature faithfully by taxidermy requires not only long 

 and close study, but an artistic sense ; and this last is a rare 



* Avoid all mechanical irritation of the inflamed parts ; touch the parts that 

 have ulcerated with a stick of lunar caustic; take a dose of salts; use syrup of 

 the iodide of iron, or tincture of the chloride of iron, say thirty drop^s of either, in 

 a wineglass of water, thrice daily ; rest at first, exercise gradually as you can bear 

 it; and skin no birds till you have completely recovered. 



