SKINNING BIRDS. 39 



while others may skin a specimen as quickly, but 

 the plumage will be crushed and broken through 

 rough usage. The time for removing the skin 

 from a small bird should not exceed six minutes, 

 and I have seen it taken off in half this time. Of 

 course the beginner will be longer than this ; and 

 then the skin should be occasionally moistened, 

 by using a damp sponge. 



Section II. : Exceptions to the Usual 

 Method of Skinning. — In case of birds which 

 are very soft on account of having been dead a 

 long time, it may be advisable to open either be- 

 neath the wing, making a short incision along the 

 side or above the wing, cutting along the feather 

 tracks just above the scapularies ; and some skin 

 ducks through a hole in the back just above the 

 rump. I do not, however, advise such practice, as 

 a rule, as the skins are more difficult to make up, 

 and the bird cannot be mounted quite as readily. 



Woodpeckers with large heads and small necks, 

 like the pileated and ivory-billed, and ducks having 

 similar characteristics, as the wood, pintail, and a 

 few other species ; also flamingoes, sand-hill, and 

 whooping cranes, cannot be skinned over the head 

 in the usual manner, but the neck should be cut 

 off after the skin has been removed as far as pos- 



