180 THE NATURALIST'S GUIDE. 



the sides as in small birds; and also at the carpal 

 joints. 



Ducks are treated in the same manner ; but always 

 turn the head on the back, and stitch the feet together. 

 Open on the back of the head, instead of on the throat, 

 when skinning. 



I do not now bend the necks of Herons, but simply 

 lay the head on £he back, stitch the legs together at 

 the tarsal joint, bend the legs forward outwardly, theu 

 fasten the toes to the wing. This gives the skin a 

 compact form. 



Some three or four summers since, I was accident- 

 ally left on a small islet lying in the midst of the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence. As this lonely rock was swarming 

 with birds, all of which were desirable, I soon collected 

 a large quantity ; but, unfortunately, when I visited the 

 rock I only intended remaining a few hours, so did 

 not go provided with arsenic for making skins. This 

 omission, although I then considered it a misfortune, 

 proved of great benefit to me, as it resulted in a dis- 

 covery which has since become invaluable. Having 

 skinned a large quantity of birds, and as the vessel 

 which was to take me off did not arrive, I was at loss 

 to know what to do with them. But, as necessity i'S 

 the mother of invention, it occurred to me that I 

 might salt them, and thus carry them home. There 

 was a light-house on the rock, and the keeper had a 

 supply of salt; I procured some, and rubbed it on the 

 skins. These were afterwards simply paeked in bar- 

 rels, and sent to Massachusetts. When I came to use 

 them, I found them in perfect condition, only requir- 

 ing to be washed, when they came out like fresh skins. 



I have since applied this method to all large skins, 

 and find that it proves effective, even in Florida. The 

 skin is removed as usual, and simply salted; the salt 



