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The following directions for skinning birds may be useful 

 in the absence of practical lessons : 



To Prepare and Preserve Skins of Birds. 



Birds, when shot, should have the niouth and vent stopped 

 up with cotton, wool, or fine grass, and the wounds dusted 

 with powdered chalk, or plaster of Paris, to prevent any 

 discharge of blood, or mucus, from soiling the feathers. These 

 precautions may be repeated when the body is cool enough for 

 skinning. The feathers being carefully divided to the left and 

 right, down to the centre of the under surface of the bird, an 

 incision is to be made from the upper part of the breast to the 

 vent ; and the skin on either side separated from the flesh by 

 the fingers, very little aid being required from the knife ; the 

 legs should be cut from the trunk at the knee-joint, that is, 

 between the thigh and leg bone in the fleshy part of the leg, 

 and the skin separated from the body as far as the vent and 

 tail, both of which must be cut off at a short distance from 

 their termination. This is, perhaps, the most difficult task in 

 skinning a bird, and considerable care will be necessary. The 

 last joint of the vertebrae supporting the tail may be left 

 attached to the skin to continue its support to the tail feathers, 

 but all the flesh and the oil-gland must be carefully removed. 

 Skin the back upwards till the wings are reached ; separate 

 these at their junction with the body, taking especial care here 

 not to cut the skin ; tie the mandibles together with a thread 

 passed very carefully through the nostrils with a fine needle, 

 so as not to injure the nostrils (which are very delicate, and 

 possess characters of scientific importance), and leave a double 

 thread attached somewhat longer than the neck. Draw out 

 the neck as far as the skull, and skin carefully round this as 

 far as the base of the mandibles, taking care in removing the 

 eyes not to puncture, or otherwise injure, the lids ; cut away 

 the tongue and all the flesh from the skull, and scoop out the 

 brain, to do which it may be necessary to remove a small 



