ORNITHOLOGICAL OBJECTS. 371 



labours, and at the same time prevent the plumage from 

 becoming ruffled. Care must be taken, however, that you 

 do not stretch the skin, or your trouble will be useless, 

 and your labours will not please you. 



From time to time, as you proceed, it is well to 

 examine the bird and see that the plumage is straight. 



The skin is now easily separated from the body right 

 down to the wing joints ; but I would have you to re- 

 member that on the back the skin is very tender, and 

 must on no account be pulled, but must always be re- 

 moved by gently pressing with your thumb. The wing 

 bones now appear, which must be severed with the scissors, 

 close to the body. The main difficulties are now over, 

 and you will find the skin is easily removed from the 

 breast and neck, right down to the skull : here, however, 

 you must use the greatest caution. The ear roots, which 

 lie very deep, must be cut out, and great care used, or 

 you will tear the skin to a certainty. After having dis- 

 sected the ears, by dint of pressing the skin with your 

 thumb, the eyes will appear, over which is a delicate blue 

 membrane. This must be cut very carefully, otherwise 

 you spoil the orbits of the eye, a disaster, by the way, 

 without remedy. After dissecting the skin from the 

 eyes you are enabled to reach the beak. 



At this stage you must now lay your specimen on 

 the table again, taking care not to stretch the skin nor 

 soil the plumage. Then, with the point of your knife, 

 gouge out the eyes, taking care not to burst them. Then, 

 by cutting ofT the hinder portion of the skull with your 

 knife, you are enabled to remove the brains. Cut away 

 the fleshy parts adhering to the skull and throat, also 

 removing the tongue. The skin is now completely dis- 

 sected from the body ; but still much remains to be 

 done if you wish to produce a pleasing specimen. 



