SKINNING. 3t 



very weak, not exceeding half a tea-spoonful to a cup of 

 water ; which will have the same effect as the gall. Which- 

 ever of these are used, the place must be immediately after- 

 wards washed with pure water, so as to leave none of the gall 

 or alkaline substance remaining. The gall has a gummy 

 tendency, and will glue together the fibres of the feathers ; 

 and, besides, it has a great attraction for moisture, and, in 

 humid weather, will become damp, and therefore produce 

 mould ; the other alkaline substances must also be used with 

 much caution and quickness, because they have the power of 

 changing the colours of the plumage, so that they are most 

 useful in white plumage, and therefore should only be used 

 on coloured feathers, where gall cannot be procured. 



One general observation applies to the preservation of all 

 animal skins, which is, they must be made perfectly dry, so 

 that the sooner they are exposed to a free current of air the 

 better ; and unless they are speedily and thoroughly dried, the 

 skin will become putrid and rotten, and the hair or feathers 

 will consequently fall off. If a skin is properly dried, soon after 

 it is killed, it will keep a considerable time without any pre- 

 servative whatever, only it will be the more liable to be attacked 

 by insects afterwards. 



The following excellent general directions for skinning, are 

 given by Mr Waterton : " While dissecting, it will be of use 

 to keep in mind, that in taking off the skin from the body, by 

 means of your fingers and little knife, you must try to shove it, 

 in lieu of pulling it, lest you stretch it. 



te That you must press as lightly as possible on the bird, and 

 every now and then take a view of it, to see that the feathers, 

 &c., are all right. 



" That when you come to the head, you must take care that 

 the body of the skin rest on your knee ; for if you allow it to 

 dangle from your hand, its own weight will stretch it too much. 



" That, throughout the whole operation, as fast as you detach 

 the skin from the body, you must put cotton immediately betwixt 

 the body and it, and this will effectually prevent any fat, blood, 

 or moisture, from coming in contact with the plumage. 



" As you can seldom get a bird without shooting it, a line or 

 two on this head will be necessary. If the bird be still alive, 

 press it hard, with your finger and thumb, just behind the 



