CHAPTER IV. 



SKINNING AND -MOUNTING C1RD3. 



Tn this chapter I propose to tell you how to skin and mount birds. 

 With the assistance of the illustrations each procedure will be so 

 clearly depicted that the student will, I believe, about as readily 

 understand the system of work as though he were to see the actual 

 operations performed on the bench. For our first attempt we sliall try 

 the American Robin Jlknila niigratoria (Linn.), and I care not if it be 

 Mr. Ridgway's Western representative, Meriila niigratoria propinqiia — 

 it's a robin just the same. The beginner should study the skeleton of 

 a bird, Plate IX. All the principles of skinning and mounting the 

 robin will be given, while all the variations and exceptions in the skin- 

 ning and mounting of other birds from the size of a hummingbird 

 to that of the ostrich will be found chiefly in foot-notes. It will, there- 

 fore, make very little difference what kind of a bird you may ]ia\e in 

 hand to work upon. Perhaps you have carried the bird wrapjjcd in a 

 paper cone in }'our satchel or collecting box for a half da}^ or more 

 and the rigor mortis has passed off The cotton in all the shot- 

 holes, mouth, nose-holes, ear cavities and vent should be taken out 

 and carefully renewed, as this will prevent the blood and liquids 

 from soiling the feathers during the process of skinning.' A strict ob- 

 servance of this rule in all cases will often save a great amount of 

 labor in cleaning the feathers after the bird is skinned. Have a box of 

 corn meal or plaster of Paris at hand ; this should be frequently and pro- 

 fusely sprinkled on the carcass to absorb any blood or grease which is 

 liable to soil the feathers. ■ The first thing to do before you proceed 

 to skin the bird is to take full measurements of the specimen and re- 



]. Filling Ear Cavities. — As a rule it is not necessary to fill the ear cavities with cotton, except in the 

 case of uwls and other birds which have very large ear orifices. 



•J. Fastening the Beaks of Birds Together while Skinning.— In large birds their beaks should 



be held together while skinning with a piece of cord run through the nose-hole, and under the lower mandible 

 and tied fast. .\ small piece of bee's wax will hold together the beaks of the majority of small birds. To the be- 

 ginner this precaution may seem superfluous afterhaving plugged the mouth, nose-holes, vent, etc., with cotton ; but 

 it frequently will save him a vast amount of labor in cleaning blood and liquids from specimens that might 

 otherwise come through and stain the feathers. 



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