32 



COLLECTOR S MANUAL 



and large birds leave this process until the skin is turned right 

 side out. Then make a cut on the under side along the second 

 joint, free the skin, and then remove the meat (fig. 29). Poison 

 carefully, and in large birds sew up the cut with a few stitches. 



Remove the flesh from the legs. Cut off the surplus meat and 

 fat from the base of the tail, making sure to remove the oil 

 gland immediately above it, but using care not to weaken the 





Fig. 27. — Line of cut on head for woodpeckers and some other birds. 



attachment of the tail feathers. This operation requires much 

 skill. Carefully remove any fat and flesh that adheres to the 

 inside of the skin. Dust the inside of the skin with arsenic and 

 alum and turn it back right side out. If the skinning process 

 has taken long and the skin is dry, moisten the inside slightly 

 with water to soften, then poison. Use the arsenic mixture in 

 sufficient quantity to coat the inside of the skin without leaving 

 any loose particles. 



