DRESSING BIRD SKINS. 117 



CHAPTER XIX. 



DRESSING BIRD SKINS. 



Varying custom has brought all kinds of skins into 

 use, and among the prettiest are those of the divers, 

 grebes, sea-birds, and ducks. They are made, nearly 

 whole, into muffs, and cut into strips for trimming cloaks 

 and hats, and for general fancy work. The most beautiful 

 of the divers is the loon, which may easily be recognized 

 by its perfect markings and bluish-black collar. Unfor- 

 tunately, most of these hardy water birds when in their 

 brightest plumage remain far north to breed, and upon 

 returning late in the autumn they have lost most of their 

 beauty. Occasionally, stragglers tarry south far into 

 spring, and are taken in the summer plumage. The 

 horned grebe in its rich silky dress of cinnamon-brown 

 and silver, is the prettiest of its family, and is often sold 

 for the Russian grebe. 



In preparing these skins, they are taken off flat, as fol- 

 lows : Make an incision through the skin from the upper 

 mandible over the head, between the eyes, down the back 

 of the neck continuous to the middle of the tail. Cut off 

 the wings and legs close to the body, and remove the 

 skin, which comes off in mat-like form. Scrape clean, 

 and cover the flesh side with powdered alum and salt- 

 petre (four parts alum, one saltpetre). Fold the skin 

 together, and allow it to remain from twenty-four hours 

 to a week, according to its condition. If there is much 

 fat, it will resist the action of the preservatives, and more 

 time will be required for tanning. When the skin is 

 permeated with the chemicals, dry and dress down with 

 a flat piece of pumice. Soften by dressing with butter, 



