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APPENDIX. 



Directions for preserving Birds for the Cabinet. 



A VARIETY of methods have been used for the 

 preservation of birds, each one possessing some ad- 

 vantage over the other. We will mention three, and 

 leave it to the judgment of the operator to choose 

 for himself. 



Much of the beauty of stuffed birds depends upon 

 their being well shot, as it is impossible to make a 

 mutilated specimen look well : for the smaller species 

 dust shot should be used, and for the larger ones 

 ball shot from a rifle-gun : so soon as one is killed, 

 a little cotton-wool or tow should be laid upon the 

 bleeding orifices or other wounds ; the feathers should 

 be laid straight, and a little tow wrapped round 

 the beak and nostrils to absorb any moisture ex- 

 uding from them ; it should then be packed in hay, 

 or cotton-wool, and in that manner conveyed home. 

 In taking off the skin great care should be used not 

 to soil the feathers ; it should be laid upon a clean 

 cloth, the feathers of the breast and belly being 

 parted, an incision should be carried from the breast 

 to the vent, in order to divide the skin ; some prefer 



