APPEXDIX. 475 



at the shoulder and thigh. Each limb can then be drawn out — as a 

 glove might be turned inside out — but the bone must not be separated 

 at its junction with the toe, or the skin of the foot or leg in any way 

 injured. The muscles can then be removed from the bone, and this 

 can best be done by cutting the tendons near the toes, and carefully 

 drawing the whole mass away at one operation. It must come in one 

 piece, not piecemeal. The bone will now be clean. Clean the skin 

 of the limb, and at the same time the remainder of the skin of all 

 superfluous flesh and fatty matter. Dress the inside all over with 

 arsenical soap, and apply freely powdered alum all over it, but par- 

 ticularly to the fleshy parts, as the eyes, nose, lips, feet, etc. Then 

 replace the bones in the limbs, having previously, if possible, bound 

 them with tow or similar material, so as to replace the muscle that 

 has been removed. A portion of stuffing should be placed in the 

 skin of the head and trunk, and the whole can be suspended to dry. 



Birds. — First of all plug up with cotton wool the throat, nostrils, 

 and all shot holes. Place the specimen on its back, the head towards 

 you. Break the wing bones {humeri) near the body. Xext separate 

 the breast feathers carefully, and make an incision along the medial 

 line from chest to vent ; having done which, turn back the skin and 

 raise the specimen to a perpendicular position, resting it on the vent. 

 Xow skin round the chest, cut through the neck, windpipe, and gullet, 

 detach the wings from the body, and remove the skin all down the 

 back to the thighs. Push the thigh through at the same time, 

 carefully drawing off the skin, and having cut the tendons near the 

 tarsus remove the muscle of the thigh in one piece, leaving the bone 

 clean. This bone must be cut near the femur joint, leaving the head 

 of the bone, which is useless, with the flesh attached to the thigh 

 and body. Having treated both legs thus, skin round root of tail ; 

 but in cutting the vertebrae take care to leave the small bone which 

 supports the tail. The next operation is to turn back the skin of 

 the head with care so that the eyes and ears may not be injured. 

 Cut away the back part of the skull with neck, tongue and palate. 

 Remove the brain and eyes, skin the wings and trim the tail, and the 

 whole skin is in condition to be cleaned and prepared. Having 

 taken away all fat and superfluous flesh, dress it with arsenical soap, 

 bind tow in place of the muscles on the bones, and return them to 

 their places. It is not desirable to use powdered alum to bird skins, 

 as it tends to make them brittle. The specimen should be filled out 

 to natural size, and a band of paper placed round it in order to keep 

 the wings and other parts in proper position till dry. During the 

 whole operation wood-dust or other dry powder should be freely 

 employed to absorb blood and grease, so that the plumage may be 

 kept clean. 



THE END. 



CHiEtHS DIC^BNS AND EVAJfS CETSTAL PALACE PBE8 



