SKINNING. 29 



soap, and dusted with the preserving- powder. The flesh is 

 removed from the thighs, the bones being carefully preserved, 

 and restored to their proper places, after being treated in the 

 same manner as the thighs. 



In the larger species of birds, all the muscles and fatty 

 matter, which adhere to the skin, are carefully cut off. Any 

 gun-shot holes in the skin are next sewed up from within ; a 

 piece of thread is then attached to the first joint of both wings, 

 and they are by means of it drawn together, to such a distance 

 as they may be supposed to have been apart, when the muscles 

 were on the body. This gives the wings a set, so that when 

 the bird is stuffed, they naturally fall into their proper place 

 and position, if the bird is in a quiescent posture. 



When birds are of a large size, take a piece of cord about a 

 yard long, one end of which should be made fast to a large 

 hook or nail in the wall, from which the bird should be sus- 

 pended ; then, with a running noose fastened round one of the 

 thighs, as represented in plate III. fig. 2., the bird is sus- 

 pended in such a manner as enables it to be turned in any 

 direction without injury. The resistance afforded assists greatly 

 in the operation of skinning. 



The insides of the wings should have an incision made in 

 them, and as much flesh taken away as possible, and some pre- 

 serving powder introduced ; a little tow or oakum should be 

 put slightly in to fill the skin, but not to extend it. If the bird 

 is large, hay may be substituted for the above. The feathers 

 must now be placed smooth, the wings laid in their natural 

 position, closed, and the subject put in a clean dry place, and 

 exposed to the air for a few days, till all moisture has evapo- 

 rated from it ; after which the stuffing may be withdrawn, and 

 many skins may be packed flat on each other. 



If the feet are large and fleshy, as in some of the Gulls, 

 Geese, Eagles, &c. an incision should be made along the sole 

 of each foot, so as to expose the muscles to the action of the 

 air, and also a quantity of preserving powder applied to it, 

 otherwise they run every risk of becoming putrid and rotten. 

 This latter precaution is not required in small birds, in which 

 the small quantity of cotton, that is put into them while drying, 

 may be retained, unless the traveller is restricted for want ot 

 room, in which case they may be packed quite flat. 

 o3 



