

miericaii 



X" 



f.JP'y- 



VOL. 



PLYMOUTH. CONN., JUNE, 1885. 



NO. 2- 



/ 



TAXIDERMY FOR BEGINNERS. 



SKINNING. 



The eyes must then be taken out, by 

 breaking the slender bones which separate 

 the orbits from the top of the mouth, in 

 which you may be assisted by pressing 

 the eyes gently inwards, so as not to break 

 them. In skinning the neck, great care 

 must be taken not to enlarge the opening 

 of the ears, and not to injure the eyelids. 

 The whole of the flesh is next to be re- 

 moved from the under mandible. 



Several species will not admit of the skin 

 being thus pulled over their heads, from 

 the smallness of their necks ; some wood- 

 peckers, ducks, etc., fall under this de- 

 scription ; in which case a longitudinal 

 incision is made unper the throat, so as to 

 admit of the head being turned out, which 

 must be neatly sewed up before stuffing. 

 The flesh from the head, wings, legs, and 

 rump, must then be carefully removed 

 with a knife, and the cavities of the skull 

 filled with cotton or tow. The whole in- 

 side of the skin, head, etc., must be well 

 rubbed arsenical soap, preserving powder, 

 spirit of turpentine, or a solution of cor- 

 rosive sublimate. When it is wished to 

 stuff the bird, it may now be immediately 

 done, as it will easily dry. if in a warm 

 climate : but in low, damp countries, it 

 will require artificial heat to do it effectu- 

 ally. 



When the skins are merely wished pre- 

 served, the bones of the legs and wings 

 should be wrapped round with cotton or 

 tow. so as to supply the place of the flesh : 



the skin is then inverted and hung up to 

 dry, after using the arsenical soap as above 

 directed; before doing which, in larger 

 birds, a thread or small string may be 

 drawn through the rump and passed up 

 the inside of the neck and drawn through 

 the bill, to prevent the head from stretch- 

 ing too much by its own weight. In 

 larger specimens, where cotton or tow is 

 not easily to be met with, well dried hay 

 may be used. 



The incision for removing the skin is 

 frequently made under the wings. This 

 may be done with marine birds to advan- 

 tage. The penguins and divers may be 

 skinned by making the incision in the 

 back. 



The greatest care must be taken to pre- 

 vent the fat and oily matter, so common 

 to sea birds, from getting on the feathers ; 

 pounded chalk will be found an excellent 

 absorbent for applying to these birds. 



It is of the utmost consequence to know 

 the color of the eyes and legs of birds. 

 and these things should be carefully noted 

 the moment they are killed ; and it should 

 also be mentioned whether they are male 

 or female : such a memorandum ought to 

 be attached to the buds by a ticket. The 

 season of the year in which the bird is 

 killed, must also be noted. 



Till practice has given facility to the 

 operator, it will assist in keeping the 

 feathers clean, if, as he opens the skin of 

 the breast, he pins pieces of paper or 

 ! linen cloth on the outside ; but after a few 

 trials, this will be unnecessary. 



[TO BE CQNTINT ED.] 



