Method of Relaxing Dried 8/cifis, dc. 7 



the lid : this must be done efiFectually, and more water added 

 so long as it is absorbed by the plaster, after which, if any 

 water remains at the bottom, it should be poured out, that 

 none of the feathers of the birds to be relaxed may become 

 wet. The specimens are then to be laid in the bottom, and 

 the lid immediately put over, so that the steam arising from 

 the plaster does not escape, or the external air enter, to 

 counteract its effects. 



The time necessary for the proper softening of a bird's 

 skin depends very much on circumstances, arising either 

 from its size or the mode in which the skin has been 

 originally prepared ; generally speaking, however, twenty- 

 four hours will be sufficient for birds not larger than a thrush, 

 if the skin has only been washed with common arsenical 

 soap. But it sometimes happens that the natives of India, 

 not being acquainted with any other composition, use one 

 of their own, which, being chiefly composed of spices, not 

 only injuriously contracts the sldn, but hardens it con- 

 siderably. 



In such cases the operator should cut the original sewing 

 where the orifice for extracting the body and soft parts has 

 been made, take out the original stuffing and insert a 

 fresh one, composed of any soft substance, saturated (but 

 not dripping) with warm water : this additional process will 

 be found necessary with many species of the anatidm or 

 duck family, whose skins are much thicker than those of the 

 generality of birds ; but if, after being again replaced in the 

 box, and left for another twenty-four hours, the skin is not 

 found to be sufficiently pliable, it may be rendered much 

 more so by applying the thumb-nail, moistened with saliva, 

 and working it sufficiently long to produce the necessary 

 degree of softness. 



Great care, however, should be observed in not distending 



