CHAPTER III. 



MAKING SKINS. 



Section I. : Cleaning Feathers. — If a bird 

 is bloody, the feathers may be washed either in 

 turpentine or water. Saturate a rag or piece of 

 cotton, and clean off the blood, which if dry may 

 require some soaking. Try to keep the water 

 from spreading as much as possible, but be sure 

 that every particle of clotted blood is removed and 

 the spot washed thoroughly. Then dry by cover- 

 ing the spot well with either plaster or dermal pre- 

 servative, the latter being preferable as it never 

 bleaches the plumage. This should be worked 

 well into the feathers with a soft brush, aided by 

 the fingers, applying a fresh supply constantly 

 until all the moisture is absorbed ; then dust with 

 a soft duster. In case of grease-spots, if fresh, 

 use the dermal preservative alone, but if old and 

 yellow use benzine to start the grease, and then dry 

 with preservative, when it will generally be found 

 that all stains will be removed ; but in some cases 

 two or three applications of benzine may be neces- 



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