i68 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



bird will never look well when set up. In instances where the 

 flow of blood emanates from the mouth or nostrils, the method 

 should be to mix a little salt with warm water, and, by means 

 of wadding dipped in it, sponge the feathers before the bird is 

 skinned, changing the wadding as it becomes soiled. If, how- 

 ever, the blood emanates from a shot-hole in connection with 

 some artery, the blood will again flow directly the warm water 

 and salt touches it, and this in spite of previous plugging ; in 

 this case, therefore, the bird should be skinned first, and 

 well cleaned before setting-up. Although the addition of salt, 

 as pointed out some years since in Science (U.S.A.), has a 

 certain action on the haemoglobin, yet the removal of the blood- 

 stains by no means completes the process of restoring the 

 feathers to a satisfactory state, for, as soon as the cleansing is 

 accomplished, the feathers must be wiped " the way of the 

 grain " with wadding dipped in benzoline, and, when a stain no 

 longer appears, common plaster of Paris should be lightly 

 dusted on, shaken off", fresh put on, and the specimen laid by 

 until the feathers are clean and dry, when they should be 

 gently beaten with a bunch of feathers, or with the softest part 

 of the wing of a large bird, and afterwards with a soft brush, 

 such as No. 19. If properly done, the feathers become 

 glossy and stainless, especially if finally brushed over lightly 

 with benzoline or spirit. 



Mud-stains are best treated with water and salt, followed, 

 as usual, by the benzoline-and-plaster treatment, but grease- 

 stains are not amenable to water-treatment, and therefore ben- 

 zoline and plaster only must be used. In very old and greasy 

 skins, it will sometimes be found necessary to use turpentine to 

 remove the stains, but, as this is in itself of a greasy or oily 

 nature, it must be followed by the benzoline-and-plaster treat- 

 merit. 



Birds with black or very dark plumage require that the 



