portion of the base of the skull, yet so as not to injure its 

 contour, or lessen its strength. The legs are now to be skinned 

 as far as there is any flesh, which must be removed from the 

 bones, anointed with arsenical soap or oilier preservative, 

 then slightly wrapped with tow or cotton, and returned to their 

 place. In a similar way, the wings must be skinned, except that 

 the flesh from the second joint onward maybe removed through 

 a fresh incision on the inner side of the wing instead of draw- 

 ing out the whole length of the bones. Having dressed these 

 with the soap and replaced them, the skull is to be plentifully 

 smeared, and its cavities filled with cotton ; the whole of the 

 skin being likewise dressed with the arsenical soap, is to be 

 restored to its natural position ; the head drawn back through 

 the neck by means of the thread attached to the mandibles ; 

 the feathers carefully smoothed down ; the skin slightly stuffed 

 with tow or cotton, and sewn up. A neat label having notes 

 of the following particulars should be tied to one of the legs : 

 " Native and other names ; sex, verified by dissection, if pos- 

 sible ; colour of the eyes, cere, legs, and fleshy parts, before 

 fading. Date when, and place where killed." 



The above notes should always be promptly taken and 

 attached to each specimen immediately upon being skinned, 

 in order to insure perfect accuracy. A number may be added 

 to the label referring to a page in the note-book, wherein all 

 other particulars that can be obtained should be recorded, as 

 to habits, food, &c., and to ascertain the latter, the crop and 

 gizzard should always be examined. 



The skin may now be rolled in a strip of paper and pinned 

 or tied moderately close to prevent the feathers being ruffled, 

 and then placed in a safe and airy place till dry, when it may 

 be stored in an air-tight and vermin-proof box or chest, with 

 other skins, and camphor placed therewith, as directed for 

 skins of mammalia. 



Great care should be taken throughout to avoid cutting, 



