WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 319 



from the forepart of the eyes to the bill, is to be 

 left in; though even this is not absolutely neces- 

 sary. Part of the wing-bones, the jaw-bones, and 

 half of the thigh-bones, remain. Everything else, 

 flesh, fat, eyes, bones, brains, and tendons are all 

 to be taken away. 



While dissecting, it will be of use to keep in 

 mind, — That, in taking off the skin from the body, 

 by means of your fingers and a little knife, you 

 must try to shove it, in lieu of pulling it, lest you 

 stretch it. 



That, you must press as lightly as possible on 

 the bird, and every now and then take a view of 

 it, to see that the feathers, &c., are all right. 



That, when you come to the head, you must 

 take care that the body of the skin rests on your 

 knee; for if you allow it to dangle from your 

 hand, its own weight will stretch it too much. 



That, throughout the whole operation, as fast 

 as you detach the skin from the body, you must 

 put cotton immediately betwixt the body and it; 

 and this will effectually prevent any fat, blood, or 

 moisture from coming in contact with the plu- 

 mage. Here it may be observed that, on the belly 

 you find an inner skin, which keeps the bowels in 

 their place. By a nice operation with the knife, 

 you can cut through the outer skin, and leave the 

 inner skin whole. Attention to this will render 

 your work very clean; so that, with a little care 

 in other parts, you may skin a bird without even 

 soiling your finger ends. 



As you can seldom get a bird without shooting 

 it, a line or two on this head will be necessary. 

 If the bird be still alive, press it hard with your 



