CHAPTER II. 



SKINNING BIRDS. 



Section I. : Ordinary Method. — The only 

 instruments that I use in removing the skin of 

 birds ordinarily is a simple knife of a peculiar form 

 (see Fig. 3) ; but I like to have a pair of dissecting 

 scissors by me to be used in cases given further 



Fig. 3. 



on. I also have plenty of cotton, and either 

 Indian meal or dermal preservative at hand to 

 absorb blood and other juices. 

 m To remove the skin from the bird, first see that 

 the mouth is plugged with cotton, and if it is, 

 note if this be dry, if not remove it and substitute 

 fresh. It is also well to note if the bird be flex- 

 ible, for if rigid it is extremely difficult to skin, 

 and it is always best to wait until this peculiar 

 rigidity of the muscles, which follows death in 

 all vertebrate animals, shall have passed. This 

 occurs in warm weather in much less time than in 



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