76 HOW TO MAKE A BIRDSKIN. 
few birds never seem to have any fat; some, like petrels, are 
always oily ; at times, especially in the indolent autumn season, 
when birds have little to do but feed, the great majority ac- 
quire an embonpoint doubtless to their own satisfaction, but to 
the taxidermist’s discomfort. In all such cases, gypsum should 
be lavishly employed. Strew plaster plentifully from the first 
cut, all through the operation ; dip your fingers in it frequently, 
as well.as your instruments. The invaluable absorbent will 
deal with most of the ‘‘ running” fat. When the skin is com- 
pletely reversed remove as much of the solid fat as possible ; 
it is generally found occupying the areolar tissue of particular 
definite tracts, and most of it may usually be peeled or flaked 
off in considerable masses. Since the soft and oozy state of 
most birds’ fat at ordinary temperatures may be much im- 
proved by cold, it will repay you to leave your birds on ice for 
a while before skinning, if you have the means and time to 
do so; the fat will become quite firm. There is a device for 
preventing or at any rate lessening the soiling of the plumage 
so apt to occur along the line of your incision; it is invaluable 
in all cases of white plumage. Take a strip of cloth of greater 
width than the length of the feathers, long enough to go up 
one side of the cut and down the other. Sew this closely to 
the skin all around the cut, and it will form an apron to guard 
the plumage. You will too frequently find that a bird, pre- 
pared without soiling and laid away apparently safe, after- 
wards grows greasy; if the plumage is white, it soon becomes 
worse than ever by showing dust that ‘the grease catches. 
Perhaps the majority of such birds in our museums show the 
dirty streak along the belly. The reason is, that the grease 
has oozed out along the cut and wherever else the skin has 
been broken, and infiltrated the plumage, being drawn up ap- 
parently by capillary attraction, just as a lampwick “sucks 
up” oil. Sometimes, without obviously soiling the plumage, 
the grease will run along the thread that ties the label, and 
make a uniformly transparent piece of ‘‘oil-paper.” I have 
no remedy to offer for this gradual infiltration of the plumage. 
It will not wash out, even with soap and water. Possibly 





