54 



MANUAL OF TAXIDERMY. 



the body and under the form, so that the threads 

 lie about a quarter of an inch apart, ending with 

 the throat. Now arrange all the feathers which 

 may have become disarranged under the threads, ( 

 and place the skin away to dry where there is no 

 draft, for a slight breeze will be sure to blow some 

 of the feathers out of place. (For the form of a 

 skin, see Fig. 10.) 



Fig. io. 



Another method of making skins which may be 

 practised to advantage is as follows : After the 

 skin is ready to place in the form, wrap it closely 

 in a very thin layer of nice cotton batting, taking 

 care that the feathers lie perfectly smooth, although 

 these may be partially arranged through the cot- 

 ton, which must be thin enough for the feathers 

 to be seen through it. The skin is then laid aside 

 to dry without placing in the form. 



Skins should not be exposed to too great artificial 

 heat, neither should they be left to dry during 



