834 



How to Mount a Bird. 



while, until the blood has coagulated. Before commencing opera- 

 tions, study the bird carefully; note where the wings lie when folded, 

 mark how far forward and how low down are the knees, and, above all, 

 notice the length of the bird. A very good plan is to gently stretch 

 a bird to its utmost, and to make a mark at the tip of its bill and at 

 the end of its tail, for future reference. Anything over this is, of course, 

 wrong, and there are but few positions wherein this limit would be 



READY FOR WORK. 



reached. For skinning purposes, you need a scalpel or other small 

 knife, a pair of sharp-pointed scissors, a knitting-needle, and a pair of 

 small spring forceps ; also, a dish of plaster-of-paris, — white corn 

 meal may be used instead, — and either powdered arsenic or arsenical 

 soap.* Cotton batting, of course, is included among the necessities. 



* Which of these two may be the better is open to discussion, but I prefer to use 

 the soap. Powdered arsenic, mixed with half its weight of powdered alum, is easily 

 obtained, and does not soil the feathers if it comes in contact with them. On the con- 

 trary, it is not so penetrating as the soap, does not stick to the skin when it is at all dry, 

 and at times dries the skin too rapidly. Arsenical soap is penetrating, keeps the skin 

 moist, and acts as a lubricant when you are inserting the neck or turning the legs. Its 

 one disadvantage is that you must use it carefully in order not to soil the feathers. 







