A SELF-SUPPORTING HOME 



table, with the weight hanging over the end; 

 then pulling the wings up and outward, the 

 loop of number two piece of string was 

 slipped over them, weighted, and the weights 

 allowed to hang down. The next move was 

 to wet the side of the bird exposed with 

 cold water, to prevent bleeding and make 

 the feathers lie flat when pushed back. 

 All this was comfortably interesting, but 

 when he reached for the knife, there was a 

 feeling of very distinct uncomfortableness. 

 The businesslike voice of my instructor 

 explained that the skin must be pulled 

 down with the left hand, and the knife in- 

 serted between the first and second ribs. 

 He made the incision quickly, about a quarter 

 of an inch. The poor bird squirmed, neces- 

 sitating a momentary pause. This always 

 occurs, the bird working its ribs up and 

 down; however, it soon resumed tranquillity 

 when the cut was lengthened an inch. 



About this time I became strongly im- 

 pressed with the fact that I had ribs of my 



277 



