58 TAXIDERMY. 



head, we pass cotton and flax into it several times : 

 we must during the operation, from time to time 

 besprinkle the humid parts with plaster of Paris or 

 dry earth, to prevent the feathers adhering to them 

 and becoming dirty, and also divide them to the 

 right and left for the same reason. 



We then take out the wings, cut them off at the 

 second joint, and, taking away the flesh, restore 

 them to their place. This operation answers for 

 small birds ; and we anoint the wings in the parts 

 which are destitute of feathers. We take away the 

 flesh of the thighs, always preserving the bones of 

 the leg, and put them back in their places. 



If the bird be of a larger size, we must carefully 

 take away all the muscles which adhere to the skin, 

 as well as the fat, and if it has been killed by a gun, 

 or holes are otherwise formed in the skin, they must 

 be properly sewn up within. We fix a piece of 

 thread to the first joint of each wing, drawing them 

 together to the distance which they occupy when 

 the bird is in flesh. This precaution, which does 

 not appear to be of great importance, infinitely 

 abridges the operation ; for when the bird is mount- 

 ed, the wings place themselves, provided they are 

 properly tied within. 



It is now necessary to arrange the skin : we begin 

 by replacing the skull (which we have taken care 

 to anoint well) ; with the left hand we hold the 

 thread which ties the beak; we assist the head in 



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