HOW TO MAKE A BIRDSKIN. 37 
to tear if deftly handled; yet a rent once started often enlarges to an embarrassing extent if 
the skin be stretched in the least. Accidental rents and enlargements of shot-holes should be 
neatly sewn up, if occurring in an exposed place; but in most cases the plumage may be set 
to hide the openings. “ The trogons are said to have remarkably thin and delicate skin; I have 
never handled one in the flesh. Among our birds, the cardinal grosbeak and the species of 
Caprimulgide have, I think, about the tenderest skins. The obvious indication in all such 
cases is simply a little extra delicacy of manipulation. In skinning most birds, you should 
not loose more than a feather or two, excepting those loosened by the shot. Pigeons are 
peculiar, among our birds, for the very loose insertion of their plumage; you will have to be 
particularly careful with them, and in spite of all your precautions a good many feathers will 
probably drop. As stripping down the secondary quills from the forearm, in the manner 
already indicated, will almost invariably set these feathers free from the skin, I recommend you 
not to attempt it, but to dress the wings as prescribed for large birds. 
Fatness. — Fat is a substance abhorred of all dissectors; always in the way, embarrass- 
ing operations and obscuring observations; while it is seldom worth examination after its 
structure has once been ascertained. It is particularly obnoxious to the taxidermist, since it 
is liable to soil the plumage during skinning, and also tu soak into the feathers afterwards ; 
and greasy birdskins are never pleasing objects. A few birds never seem to have any fat ; 
some, like petrels, are always oily ; at times, especially in the indolent autunin season, when 
birds have little to do but feed, the great majority acquire an embonpoint doubtless to their own 
satisfaction, but to the taxidermist’s discomfort. In all such cases gypsum should be lavishly 
employed. Strew plaster plentifully, from the first cut all through the operation; dip your 
fingers in it frequently, as well as your instruments. The invaluable absorbent will deal with 
inost of the ‘‘running” fat. When the skin is completely reversed, remove as much of the 
solid fat as possible; it is generally found occupying the areolar tissue of particular definite 
tracts, and most of it may usually be peeled or flaked off in considerable masses. Since the 
' soft and oozy state of most birds’ fat at ordinary temperatures may be much improved by cold, 
it will repay you to leave your birds on ice for a while before skinning, if you have the means 
and time to do so; the fat will become quite firm. There is a device for preventing or at any 
rate lessening the soiling of the plumage so apt to occur along the line of your incision; it is 
invaluable in all cases of white plumage. Take a strip of cloth of greater width than the 
length of the feathers, long enough to go up one side of the cut and down the other. Sew 
this closely to the skin all around the cut, and it will form an apron to guard the plumage. 
You-will too frequently find that a bird, prepared without soiling and laid away apparently 
safe, afterwards grows greasy; if the plumage is white, it soon becomes worse than ever by 
showing dust that the grease catches. Perhaps the majority of such birds in our museums 
show the dirty streak along the belly. The reason is, that the grease has oozed out along the 
cut, or wherever else the skin has been broken, and infiltrated the plumage, being drawn up 
apparently by capillary attraction, just as a lampwick “‘ sucks up” oil. Sometimes, without 
obviously soiling the plumage, the grease will run along the thread that ties the label, and 
make a uniformly transparent piece of “‘oil-paper.” I have no remedy to offer for this gradual 
infiltration of the plumage. It will not wash out, even with soap and water. Possibly careful 
and persistent treatment with an ether might be effective, hut I am not prepared to say it would 
be. Removal of all fat that can be got off during skinning, with a liberal use of plaster, will 
in a measure prevent a difficulty that remains incurable. 
Bloodstains, etc.— In the nature of the case, this complication is of continual occurrence ; 
fortunately it is easier dealt with than greasiness. Much may be done in the field to prevent 
ploodying of the plumage, as already said. A little blood does not show much on a dark 
