18 HOW TO MAKE A BIRDSKIN. 
cisely like bloodstains; but it is to be remarked that these 
stains are not seldom indelible, traces usually persisting in 
white plumage at least in spite of our best endeavors. Eye- 
water, insignificant as it may appear, is often a great annoy- 
ance, this liquor is slightly glairy, or rather glassy, and puts a 
sort of sizing on the plumage, difficult to efface —the more so 
since the soiling necessarily occurs in a conspicuous place, 
where the plumage is too scanty and delicate to bear much 
handling. It frequently happens that a lacerated eyeball, by 
the elasticity of the coats, or adhesion of the lids, retains its 
fluid till this is pressed out in manipulating the parts; and 
recollecting how the head lies buried in plumage at that stage 
of the process, it will be seen that not only the head, but much 
of the neck and eyen the breast may become wetted. If the 
parts are extensively soaked, the specimen is almost irrepa- 
rably damaged, if not ruined. Plaster will absorb the moist- 
ure, but much of the sizing may be retained on the plumage ; 
therefore, though the place seems simply wet, it should be thor- 
oughly washed with water before the gypsum is applied. I 
always endeayor to prevent the accident; if I notice a lacer- 
ated eyeball, I extract it before skinning, in the manner de- 
scribed for woodpeckers. Miscellaneous stains, from the juices 
of plants, etc., may be received; all such are treated on gen- 
eral principles. Blood on the beak and feet of rapacious birds, 
mud on the bill and legs of waders, etc., etc., may be washed 
off without the slightest difficulty. A land bird that has fallen 
in the water should be recovered as soon as possible, picked 
up by the bill, and shaken; most of the water will run off, un- 
less the plumage is completely soaked. It should be allowed 
to dry just as it is, without touching the plumage, before being 
wrapped and bagged. ‘If a bird fall in soft mud, the dirt 
should be scraped or snapped off as far as this can be done 
without plastering the feathers down, and the rest allowed to 
dry ; it may afterward be rubbed fine and dusted off, when no 
harm will ensue, except to white feathers which may require 
washing. 


