HOW TO SKIN BIRDS. 



109 



nicely adjusted in the paper belt or 

 drying-board it will answer all pur- 

 poses. The name of the bird, sex 

 and locality and date of capture 

 should be recorded on the slip of 

 paper. When dry, it can be dropped 

 head foremost into a paper cone, and 

 the end folded over and pinned. 



This is what is technically called 

 a "skin," and is the only practical 

 way to preserve birds while on an 

 excursion. 



Hundreds of skins will occupy 

 but a comparatively small amount of 

 space, and they can be "wet up" 

 and mounted at any time. 



When it is desired to ship birds 

 in the flesh they should have the 

 mouth, nostrils and vent tightly filled 

 with cotton to keep the feathers from 

 becoming soiled by any of the juices 

 that are liable to escape. 



It is impossible to ship birds in 

 the flesh in warm weather without 

 taking the entrails out and then sat- 

 urating the inside and the throat 

 well with carbolic acid. All speci- 

 mens shipped in this way should be 

 carefully wrapped in paper, placed 

 in a box and marked "Perishable, 

 shipped by express. 



and in all cases 



