264 PHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOGY. 



A little tow or cotton should always be placed in the 

 mouth, to prevent any mucus or blood flowing out, and 

 soiling the feathers. 



The incision of the skin may be made, either from the 

 breast to the vent along the belly, or on the side under the 

 wing. When the opening is under the belly, the space 

 under the wings can be afterwards exhibited in the attitude 

 of flying. On the other hand, when the incision is made 

 under the wing, the beauty of the belly can be better pre- 

 served, and a greater fulness given to that part in stuf- 

 fing. Besides, should the feathers be any way damaged 

 round the margin of the incision, the wing can easily be 

 made to hide all the defects. Indeed, in skinning birds, it 

 is indispensably necessary, for preserving the feathers from 

 being soiled, to pin folds of paper on the margin of the in- 

 cision. If feathers have once been soiled, a little soap and 

 water applied with a sponge, and adhesion of the webs 

 prevented, in the course of drying, by frequent stirring, 

 Avill render them clean, but they usually lose much of their 

 lustre. 



As the femoral joint of birds is internal, it is never left 

 attached to the skin, but usually separated at the tibial 

 extremity. If a noose on the end of a cord suspended 

 from the roof, be fixed on the tibial end of the femur, as it 

 remains in connection with the carcase, the process of skin- 

 ning will be greatly facilitated. The carcase, in this man- 

 ner, may be suspended the instant the first leg is disenga- 

 ged, and the remaining part of the process of flaying exe- 

 cuted readily, without the help of an assistant. 



In some cases the neck is so much narrower than the 

 head, that the skin cannot be completely reversed, to en- 

 able the operator to take out the brain and eyes. This 

 difficulty chiefly occurs among the grallas and palmipedes. 

 In such cases, an incision must be made on one side of the 



