MARKING THE CAPON. 37 
otherwise when the flow of blood ceases, see that 
no feather, bit of sponge or other foreign article is 
left inside; then withdraw the spreader and unloosen 
the bird. Next mark it in some way to show that 
it has undergone the operation. One 
pe eae of the easiest and quickest ways to do 
that is to clip off the end of one toe. 
All my capons have a stub inside toe on the left 
foot. The style of marking is a matter of individual 
ehoice. You can use one of the 25-cent chicken 
markers with which to punch a hole or two through 
the web between two toes; or you might use wire 
rings, or any other of the various devices. A stub 
toe, however, suits my perpose as well as anything. 
Put the fowls foot upon the table, hold a keen knife 
blade across end of toe to be amputated, with knife 
point down upon the table, and then with a quick 
move press down the handle of the knife, likea 
lever, and thus clip off the toe end. It seems to 
make no particular difference to the fowl, either at 
the time that it is done or afterwards. 
Of course, you will occasionally lose a bird. When 
in removing the testicle you rupture a big blood 
vessel, the bird will die under your hands, usually 
in less than ten minutes. In that case, chop his 
head off, if you so prefer, and have a fine spring- 
chicken dinner. Accidents of this kind, however, 
should not occur oftener than once in fifty opera- 
tions on ordinary fowls, even with the beginner. 
But if they do occur there is no loss, as the bird has 
its full value for table use. A capon that comes out 
alive after the operation, is ‘‘ out of the woods,”’ 
and complete recovery is swift. 
