642 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



bones, cotton inserted, and the skin sewed up again; 

 and further, a thread should be attached to each 

 wing at the point where the bones have been sepa- 

 rated, in order that they may be tied to the proper 

 width across the back when the skin has been 

 turned. The legs are now to be skinned nearly to 

 the top of the tarsi, the muscle removed, preserva- 

 tive applied, and tow wound round the bones, when 

 the legs may be drawn out naturally. Preservative 

 must be applied to all parts of the skin, after which 

 the process of returning the head through the neck 

 is to be commenced by gently pushing the skull up, 

 at the same time drawing the skin down with the 

 fingers ; and when it has been brought back to the 

 base of the skull, turning the body partly over, and 

 letting it lie flat on the table ; then take the loop 

 which is attached to the bill in one hand, place the 

 other on the skin, and with a gentle strain draw 

 the head out. Great caution and some skill are re- 

 quired to pass the large skulls of some birds, as the 

 Owls, through the neck Dress the feathers of the 

 head with a long needle, and the cotton which re- 

 placed the eyes should be loosened up, and drawn 

 sufficiently far through the orbits to keep them of 

 the natural size ; open the bill and pass some cotton 

 into the mouth, to keep the chin and upper part of 

 the throat properly distended ; and with a thread 

 confine the mandibles for drying. Tie the wings at 

 the proper width across the back ; pass the thread 

 which was previously fastened to the lower part of 

 the skull, with a needle, through the base of the 



