WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 323 



You may now take the cotton out of the mouth ; 

 cut away all the remaining flesh at the palate, 

 and whatever may have remained at the under 

 jaw. 



Here is now before you the skin, without loss 

 of any feathers, and all the flesh, fat, and un- 

 cleaned bones out of it, except the middle joint of 

 the wings, one bone of the thighs, and the fleshy 

 root of the tail. The extreme point of the wing 

 is very small, and has no flesh on it, comparatively 

 speaking, so that it requires no attention, except 

 touching it with the solution from the outside. 

 Take all the flesh from the remaining joint of the 

 wing, and tie a thread about four inches long to 

 the end of it ; touch all with the solution, and put 

 the wing-bone back into its place. In baring this 

 bone you must by no means pull the skin; you 

 would tear it to pieces beyond all doubt, for the 

 ends of the long feathers are attached to the bone 

 itself; you must push off the skin with your 

 thumb-nail and forefinger. Now skin the thigh 

 quite to the knee ; cut away all flesh and tendons, 

 and leave the bone : form an artificial thigh round 

 it with cotton ; apply the solution, and draw back 

 the skin over the artificial thigh: the same to 

 the other thigh. 



Lastly, proceed to the tail; take out the inside 

 of the oil-gland, remove all the remaining flesh 

 from the root, till you see the ends of the tail- 

 feathers ; give it the solution, and replace it. Now 

 take out all the cotton which you have been putting 

 into the body from time to time to preserve the 

 feathers from grease and stains. Place the bird 

 upon your knee on its back; tie together the two 



