SKINNING. 85 



getting these to remain attached to the skin in all weathers, 

 because the humidity of rainy seasons melts gum Arabic when 

 it is used as a varnish, and when white varnish is applied, both 

 it and the gum Arabic fall off in pieces. To prevent the gum 

 from falling off in this way, by its contracting, the solution 

 should have about an eighth part of ox-gall mixed with it, and 

 the surface of any body to be varnished should be washed with 

 ox-gall and water before the varnish is applied, which will, al- 

 most to a certainty, prevent it from cracking and falling oif. 

 It must, however, be thoroughly dried before the varnish is 

 applied. 



We may here state, that an animal the size of a Fox or a 

 Cat, may be skinned, prepared, and finally set up, in the space 

 of four or five hours, by a person who has had a little practice 

 in the art of Taxidermy, and that from ten to fifteen minutes 

 are all that will be required to skin an animal of the size just 

 mentioned. 



CHAP. II. 



OF SKINNING, PRESERVING, AND MOUNTING BIRDS. 



SKINNING. 



IMMEDIATELY after a Bird is killed, the throat and nostrils 

 should be stuffed with tow, cotton, or fine rags, and a small 

 quantity wound round the bill, to prevent the blood from staining 

 the plumage ; but should any get on the feathers, notwith- 

 standing this precaution, the sooner it is removed the better, 

 which should be effected by a sponge which has been merely 

 moistened in water. Too much dispatch cannot be used in 

 removing the skin, if the bird is shot in a warm climate ; but, 

 in temperate regions, the bird may be allowed to cool. 



In proceeding to skin the Bird, it should be laid on its back, 



and the feathers of the breast separated to the right and left, 



when a broad interval will be discovered, reaching from the 



top to the bottom of the breast-bone. (See plate III. fig. I., 



c 



