SKINNING BIRDS. 35 



on that side upward. This will disclose the 

 second joint of the leg, or knee proper. Pass the 

 knife under this joint, and, by cutting against the 

 thumb, cut it completely off, a matter easily ac- 

 complished in small birds ; rub a little absorbent 

 on either side of the severed joint ; then grasping 

 the end of the tibia firmly between the thumb and 

 forefinger of the right hand, draw it outward. At 

 the same time, the skin of the leg should be 

 pressed downward by the fingers of the right hand 

 to prevent tearing. The leg is thus easily exposed, 

 and should be, as a rule, skinned to the tarsal 

 joint. With the thumb-nail, nip off the extreme 

 tip of the tibial bone, and strip the flesh off the 

 remainder of the bone by a downward pull ; then 

 give the whole a twist, and cut all the tendrils at 

 once. Of course the flesh may be removed from 

 the bone by scraping, etc., but the above is the 

 best method, and in case of large birds, break the 

 end of the tibia with pliers. Turn the bird end for 

 end, and proceed the same with the other leg, but 

 during both operations the bird should not be 

 raised from the bench. Now peel away the skin 

 about the tail, place the forefinger under its base, 

 and cut downward through the caudal vertebra 

 and muscles of the back quite to the skin, the 



