-i->'r-r_i-^ 



374 



^w 



ZOOLOGY, 



[Sect XL 



ides adhering together, and lastly, to mind that the bird 

 is restored to its original length and proportions, and that 

 the feathers are laid down as smooth as possible. In 

 large birds, more especially, it will be found useful to put 

 a reed or thin bit of stick up the neck, around which the 

 stuffing of the neck may be wound, for this will prevent 

 the tender skin of the neck bursting, when dry, upon the 

 spcciineii not being handled with sufficient care : and in 

 larsre birdsj it is also necessary to make an incision above 



the elbow-joint of the vfings extending along their under 



surface, and to remove from thence the muscles of that 



In general, it will be found more easy to skin 



part 



birds, after one or two trials, to the complete satisfaction 

 of the operator, than to put thein nicely into shape afcer- 

 wards, in the form they are to take on drying : and upon 

 being dried thoroughly, they are to be rolled up in paper 



and tied round with a string. 



Birds should be skinned as soon as they are cold ; they 

 c^^anot be kept so long as quadrupeds, and as soon as 

 decomposition begins the feathers are affected, and, if the 

 operation of skinning be deferred till it take place, they 

 will drop off. The os coccygis, or riimp-bone, should be 

 left with the skin, otherwise the tail-feathers will be liable 

 to fall out. 



should be procured if pos- 



The nest. 



eQ'gs» and 



young snouio o( 



SI 



:i.i 



! 5 



SlIJL 



To preserve the eggs of birds with their nests, each 

 nest should be put into a round box just large enough 

 to contain it. After having made a small perforation 



at each end of the eggs, and expelled their contents, 

 some cotton should be laid upon them to keep them 



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