SKINNING. 25 
getting these to remain attached to the skin in all weathers, 
because the humidity of rainy seasons melts gum Arabic when | 
it is used as a varnish, and when white varnish is applied, both | 
_ it and the gum Arabic fall off in pieces. To prevent the gum 
_ from falling off in this way, by its contracting, the solution 
should have about an eighth part of ox-gall mixed with it, and 
the surface of any body to be varnished should be washed with 
| ox-gall and water before the varnish is applied, which will, al- 
most to a certainty, prevent it from cracking and falling off. 
It must, however, be thoroughly dried before the varnish is 
applied. 
We may here state, that an animal the size of a Fox or a 
Cat, may be skinned, prepared, and finally set up, in the space 
of four or five hours, by a person who has had a little practice 
in the art of Taxidermy, and that from ten to fifteen minutes 
are all that will be required to skin an animal of the size just 
mentioned. 
CALA PIE 
OF SKINNING, PRESERVING, AND MOUNTING BIRDS. 
SKINNING. 
- ImmepraTeLy after a Bird is killed, the throat and nostrils 
| should be stuffed with tow, cotton, or fine rags, and a small 
quantity wound round the bill, to prevent the blood from staining 
the plumage; but should any get on the feathers, notwith- 
standing this precaution, the sooner it is removed the better, 
which should be effected by a sponge which has been merely 
moistened in water. Too much dispatch cannot be used in 
in temperate regions, the bird may be allowed to cool. 
and the feathers of the breast separated to the right and left, 
when a broad interval will be discovered, reaching from the 
top to the bottom of the breast-bone. (See plate III. fg. 1., 
removing the skin, if the bird is shot in a warm climate ; but, | 
In proceeding to skin the Bird, it should be laid on its back, | 
| 
