SKINNING. 31 
very weak, net 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 galt 
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. Ifa 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. 
“ 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; forif 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 tat, 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 
| 
