THE MAKING OF A BIRD'S "SKIN" i8i 



tied, or, in some birds, brought together by a stitch passing 

 through the skin underneath, and at the junction of the tarso- 

 meta-tarsus, and the head arranged as shown in the figure, turned 

 on one side, which, though more difficult to subsequently set up, 

 is, perhaps, better for the cabinet, and is decidedly so in the case 

 of long-billed birds. All being settled, cotton or hemp may 

 be wound a few times around to keep any refractory feathers in 

 position, but can be dispensed with in time. 



The paper strip or band is more used by professionals, as 

 giving less trouble and taking up less space than a series of 

 troughs, and is easily arranged around a bird after the feathers 

 are settled, and the two ends brought together and pinned. 

 Mr. Maynard ^ recommends a skin to be wrapped closely " in a 

 very thin layer of nice cotton batting (wadding), taking care 

 that the feathers lie perfectly smooth, although these may be 

 partially arranged through the cotton, which must be thin 

 enough for the feathers to be seen through it. The skin is then 

 laid aside to dry, without placing it in the form " (trough). 



In the Leicester Museum, two or three cross bands of thin 

 tissue-paper have been used with advantage to supersede this 

 last method. In all methods it may be necessary to look at 

 the skin before it sets, and to correct any irregularities. Finally, 

 a card should be attached to the legs, containing all information as 

 to sex, stage of maturity, date and place of capture, and initials of 

 collector on one side, and on the other should be written notes 

 as to the colours of the irides, bill, legs, and soft parts. These 

 matters should be noted for all animals, and especially when 

 collecting, abroad. A well-shaped skin should appear as shown 

 in Fig. 4, Plate IX. 



' Manual of Taxidermy, p. 54. 



