
80 HOW TO MAKE A BIRDSKIN. 
§44. Decomeosition. It might seem unnecessary to speak 
of what may be smelled out so readily as animal putrescence, 
but there are some useful points to be learned in this connec- 
tion, besides the important sanitary precautions that are to be 
deduced. Immediately after death the various fluids of the 
body begin to ‘‘settle” (so to speak) and shortly after, the 
muscular system as a rule becomes fixed in what is technically 
called rigor mortis. This stiffening usually occurs as the ani- 
mal heat dies away; but its onset, and especially its duration, 
is very variable, according to circumstances, such as cause of 
death ; although in most cases of sudden violent death of an 
animal in previous good health, it seems to depend chiefly upon 
temperature, being transient and imperfect, or altogether want- 
ing in hot weather. As it passes off, the whole system re- 
laxes, and the body soon becomes as ‘“‘limp” as at the moment 
of death. This is the period immediately preceding decompo- 
sition —in-fact, it may be considered as the stage of incipient 
putridity ; it is very brief in warm weather; and it should be 
seized as the last opportunity of preparing a bird without 
inconvenience and even danger. If not skinned at once, 
putrescence becomes established ; it is indicated by the efflu- 
vim (at the outset “sour,” but rapidly acquiring a variety of 
disgusting odors); by the distension of the abdomen with 
gaseous products of decomposition; by a loosening of the 
cuticle, and consequently of the feathers; and by other signs. 
If you part the feathers of a bad-smelling bird’s belly to 
find the skin swollen and livid or greenish, while the feathers 
come off at a touch, the bird is too far gone to be recovered 
without trouble and risk that no ordinary specimen warrants. 
It is a singular fact that this early putrescence is more 
poisonous than utter rottenness; as physicians are aware, a 
post-mortem examination at this stage, or even before it, in- 
volves more risk than their ordinary dissecting-room expe- 
rience. It seems that both natural and pathological poisons 
lose their early virulence by resolution into other products 
of decay. The obvious deduction from all this is to skin 
your birds soon enough. Some say they are best skinned per- 

