APPENDIX 387 



drawing the whole mass away at one operation. It must come in one 

 piece, not piecemeal. The bone will now be clean. Clean the skin 

 of the limb, and at the same time the remainder of the skin of all super- 

 fluous flesh and fatty matter. Dress the inside all over with arsenical 

 soap, and apply freely powdered alum all over it, but particularly to 

 the fleshy parts, as the eyes, nose, lips, feet, etc. Then replace the 

 bones in the limbs, having previously, if possible, bound them with 

 tow or similar material, so as to replace the muscle that has been re- 

 moved. A portion of stuffing should be placed in the skin of the head 

 and trunk, and the whole can be suspended to dry. 



BiKDS. — ^First of aU plug up with cotton wool the throat, nostrils, 

 and all shot holes. Place the specimen on its back, the head towards 

 you. Break the wing bones (humeri) near the body. Next separate 

 the breast feathers carefully, and make an incision along the medial 

 Une from chest to vent; having done which, turn back the skin and 

 raise the specimen to a perpendicular position, resting it on the vent. 

 Now skin round the chest, cut through the neck, windpipe, and guUet, 

 detach the wings from the body, and remove the skin all down the 

 back to the thighs. Push the thigh through at the same time, care- 

 fully drawing off the skin, and having cut the tendons near the tarsus 

 remove the muscle of the thigh in one piece, leaving the bone clean. 

 This bone must be cut near the femur joint, leaving the head of the 

 bone, which is useless, with the flesh attached to the thigh and body. 

 Having treated both legs thus, skin round root of tail ; but in cutting 

 the vertebrae take care to leave the small bone which supports the tail. 

 The next operation is to turn back the skin of the head with care so 

 that the eyes and ears may not be injured. Cut away the back part 

 of the skull with neck, tongue, and palate. Remove the brain and eyes, 

 skin the wings and trim the tail, and the whole skin is in condition to 

 be cleaned and prepared. Having taken away aU fat and superfluous 

 flesh, dress it with arsenical soap, bind tow in place of the muscles on 

 the bones, and return them to their places. It is not desirable to use 

 powdered alum to bird skins, as it tends to make them brittle. The 

 specimen should be filled out to natural size, and a band of paper, 

 placed round it in order to keep the wings and other parts in proper 

 position till dry. During the whole operation wood-dust or other dry 

 powder should be freely employed to absorb blood and grease, so that 

 the plumage may be kept clean. 



THE END 



