HOW TO MAKE A BIEDSKIN. 37 



to tear if deftly handled ; yet a rent once started often enlarges to an embarrassing extent if 

 the sliin be stretched in the least. Accidental rents and enlargements of shot-holes should be 

 neatly sewn up, if occuning in an exposed place ; but in most cases the plumage may be set 

 to hide the openings. The trogons are sai<l to have remarkably thin and delicate skin; I have 

 never handled one in the flesh. Among our birds, the cardinal grosbeak and the species of 

 Caprimulgida; have, I think, about the tenderest skins. The obvious indication in all such 

 cases is simply a little extra delicacy of manipulation. In skinning most birds, you sliould 

 not loose more than a feather or two, excepting those loosened by the shot. Pigeons are 

 peculiar, among our birds, fVjr the very loose insertion of their plumage ; you will have to be 

 particularly careful with tliem, and in sjiiti; of all your precautions a good many feathers will 

 probably drop. As stripping doM'n the secondary quills from the forearm, in tlie manner 

 already indicated, will almost invariably set tliese feathers free from the skin, I recommend you 

 not to attempt it, but to dress the wings as prescribed for large birds. 



Fatness. — Fat is a substance abhorred of all dissectors ; always in the way, embarrass- 

 ing operations and obscuring observations ; while it is seldom worth examination after its 

 structure has once been ascertained. It is particularly obnoxious to the taxiderndst, since it 

 is liable to soil the plumage during skinning, and also to soak hito the feathers afterwards ; 

 and greasy birdskins are never pleasing objects. A few liirds never seera to have any fat ; 

 some, like petrels, are always ijily ; at times, especially in the indolent autumn season, when 

 birds have little to do but feed, the great majority acrpiire an emhonpoint douljtless to their own 

 satisfaction, but to the taxidermist's discoinfurt. In all such cases gypsum should be lavishly 

 employed. Strew plaster plentifully, from the first cut all through the operation ; dip your 

 fingers in it frerpiently, as well as your instruments. The invalual^le absorbent will deal with 

 most of the "running" fat. When the skin is completely rev(!Tsed, remove as much of the 

 solid fat as possible ; it is generally found occupying the areolar tissue of particular definite 

 tracts, and most fif it may usually be peeled or flaked off in considerable masses. Since tlie 

 soft and oozy state of most birds' fat at ordinary temperatures may be much improved by cold, 

 it will repay you to leave your birds on ice fir a. while before skinning, if you have the means 

 and time to do so ; the fat will become quite firm. There is a device for preventing or at any 

 rate lessening the soiling of the plumage so apt to occur along the line of your incision ; it is 

 invaluable in all cases of white plumage. Take a strip of cloth of greater width than the 

 length of the feathers, long enough t<j go up one side of the cut and down the othei-. Sew 

 this closely to the skin all around the cut, and it will form an apron to guard the plumage. 

 You will too frequently find that a bird, prepared without soiling and laid away apparently 

 safe, afterwards grows greasy; if the pluniage is white, it soon becomes worse than e-^-er by 

 showing dust that the grease catches. Perliaps the majority of such birds in our museums 

 show the dirty streak along the belly. The reason is, that the grease has oozed out along the 

 cut, or wherever else the skin has been bndven, and infiltrated the plumage, being drawn up 

 apparently by capillary attraction, ju.st as a lampwick "sucks up " oil. Sometimes, without 

 obviously soiling the plumage, the grease ^vi^ run along the thread that ties the label, and 

 make a uniformly transparent piece of "oil-paper." I have no remedy to offer for this gradual 

 infiltration of the plumage. It M-ill not ^vash out, even with soap and water. Possibly careful 

 and persistent treatment with an ether might be effective, but I am not prepared to say it would 

 be. Removal of all fat that can be got off during skinning, with a liberal use of plaster, will 

 in a measure prevent a difficulty that remains incurable. 



Bloodstains, etc. — In the nature of the case, this complication is of continual occurrence; 

 fortunately it is easier dealt with than greasiness. Much may be done in the field to prevent 

 bloodying of the plumage, as already said. A little blood does not show much on a dark 



