370 RURAL BIRD LIFE. 



the vent. Now cut the skin on the breast with the knife 

 for a Httle way, and then, with the fine-pointed scissors, 

 you can, with the greatest ease, cut the skin to the vent. 

 Care should be taken whilst performing this operation 

 to only cut the outer skin, for if the inner one is severed 

 the bowels will protrude, and soil the plumage. With 

 the scissors, however, the difficulty, with the least amount 

 of care, is almost overcome. 



Still keeping the bird in the same position, proceed 

 to gently push the skin away from the body on the left 

 side, adding wool between the skin and the body as you 

 proceed, until the thigh appears. Then with the scissors 

 sever the thigh bone a little below the middle joint, and 

 on the part of the thigh remaining on the carcass of the 

 bird, tie a piece of your thread about six inches long. 

 Now, turning the bird round, so that its tail will point to 

 your right shoulder, do exactly the same on that side, 

 not neglecting to fasten a similar piece of thread on the' 

 other thigh : the reason for this will be seen shortly. 



Now, by gently pressing the skin from the flesh on 

 each side, always bearing in mind that you must apply 

 wool as soon as the skin is removed from the body, to 

 keep the plumage free from grease and dirt, you are 

 enabled to reach quite down to the root of the tail, 

 where with your knife you must cut deeply into the flesh 

 until the backbone appears, which with your scissors is 

 now easily severed, and the tail is dissected from the 

 body. You need do no more here at present, save 

 applying a quantity of wool to protect the plumage from 

 harm. You will now see the use of the strings which 

 you previously tied on the thighs of your bird. These 

 two strings tied together form a noose on which the bird 

 can be suspended while you complete the operation of 

 skinning it, an item that will greatly aid you in your 



