86 



THE OOLOG1ST. 



Hints on Skinning and Mounting Birds. 



Of course I do not intend to enrich 

 the minds of all the readers of this ar- 

 ticle with rare and new ideas, but I 

 think many can read, and learn some- 

 thing by it that will help them a great 

 deal in making up fine specimens, both 

 of skins and mounted birds. Before I 

 entered Wards Natural Science Estab- 

 lishment I had the impression I knew 

 how to mount birds but I soon found I 

 knew but comparatively little about the 

 art. However I took careful observa- 

 tions and soon learned points which I 

 wish others that are still following in 

 my old path to know. If you have col- 

 lected a bird and intend to make a skin 

 of it, never let it enter your cabinet un- 

 til every particle of blood stain is wash- 

 ed from it. This can be easily done 

 with clean water. 



If the bird is fat be sure and scrape it 

 Avell to prevent the grease from entire- 

 ly destroying your specimen. 



In skinning a bird never cut the ends 

 of the secoudai'y quills loose from the 

 Ulna; but, by cutting through under- 

 neath the wing, you can easily remove 

 the flesh around the radius and ulna. 



In all large birds it is an excellent 

 plan to remove the tendons from the 

 leg 



Always poison your specimens well 

 and fill the bodies as near as possible to 

 the natural size. 



In nearly all cases I think it is a poor 

 plan to sew the bodies up, as a great 

 many of our collectors do for when you 

 come to open them you are very liable 

 to damage them by the thread tearing 

 out. 



Always fold the wings and let them 

 dry as near as possible in their natural 

 position. 



Skins of Owls should never be laid on 

 the back to dry, as the soft fluffy feath- 

 ers on the head are sure to get out of 

 place. 



If the bird has a long neck always in- 



sert a wire or stick the whole length to 

 prevent its getting brokeu. If wire ia 

 used always choose zinc or copper, nev- 

 er iron, for it will rust and color your 

 specimen if it comes in contact with 

 the skin. If these points are observed 

 and carried out I trust each one of us 

 can escape the ever criticizing eye of 

 our brother ornithologists. 



In mounting a bird always use a solid 

 body. This is easily made by winding 

 excelsior with strong thread or string. 

 Make each body as near as possible the 

 some shape and size of the natural one. 



If the feathers are badly covered with 

 grease and dirt (as is generally the case 

 with all water birds) wash them in naph- 

 tha thoroughly, and then dry in a box 

 of plaster paris. With a small brush 

 continually beat the skin, turning it 

 over as you do so, as this will shake off 

 the damp plaster and prevent it from 

 setting to the feathers, which otherwise 

 would be the case. Keep adding dry- 

 plaster until the feathers are all dry. 

 Then with a small bellows you can blow 

 nearly all the plaster from the bird. 



Always use as large wire as you can 

 conveniently. 



Be sure and have the eyes of all your 

 specimens directly opposite each other 

 and looking at the same point. 



If the body is not just the right size- 

 cut a slit through the skin under the 

 wiug and with a wire you cau build out 

 the body with cotton or tow to suit 

 yourself. After the' wings are folded in 

 place nobody but yourself would ever- 

 know the cuts were there. 



Do not mount all of j'our birds in one 

 position as is generally the ca'se. Have 

 a variety and you will feel proud of 

 them. 



If you have a skin of a rare and hand- 

 some bird that has been torn and bro- 

 ken no matter how bad, never throw it 

 away; but make your body aud with 

 glue you can stick each section in place 

 If the feathers are all there, and the job. 

 skillfully performed, I will defy any- 



