24 collector's manual 



from natives who trap them, though these are often in too 

 mutilated a condition for specimens. 

 The tools for preparation are as follows: 



Small scalpel or knife. 



Small, pointed scissors. 



Small, pointed forceps or tweezers. 



Needle and thread. 



Tough paper for labels. 



Arsenic and alum mixed. 



Hardwood sawdust or corn meal for absorbent. 



Cotton, tow, and excelsior for stuffing. 



In case of necessity birds may be skinned with no other instru- 

 ments than a small sharp knife. 



After shooting a bird, pick it up and handle it by the feet or 

 bill, never by the tail, as some movement may pull out the 

 feathers. Immediately sprinkle dry corn meal or diy earth as 

 an absorbent on any blood that may be on the feathers. When 

 this is absorbed scrape it off carefully with the point of a knife 

 and apply more of the absorbent. Plug the mouth and throat 

 with clean cotton to prevent bleeding. Keep the feathers as 

 clean as possible as this will save work in washing them later. 

 Put small birds head first in a paper cornucopia to keep the 

 feathers from ruffling while carrying. Larger specimens may be 

 wrapped in paper or carried by the feet, using care not to break 

 the feathers of wings and tail. In hot weather unwrap specimens 

 at once on reaching house or camp so that they will cool. Do 

 not try to skin birds until the blood is thoroughly coagulated. 



Prepare a label as indicated (fig. 19), giving locality, date, 

 collector's name, and number, and color of eyes, bill, and feet 



