SKINNING. 25 



afterwards washed in pure water, so as to leave none of the gall 

 or alkaline substance remaining. The gall has a gummy tendency, 

 and will glue together the fibres of the feathers, and, besides, if 

 has a great attraction for moisture, and, in humid weather, will 

 become damp, and therefore produce mould ; the other alkaline 

 substances must also be used with much caution and quickness, 

 because they have the power of changing *the colors of the 

 plumage, so that they are most useful in white plumage, and 

 therefore should only be used on colored feathers, where gall can- 

 not be procured. 



One general observation applies to the preservation of all 

 animal skins, which is, they must be made perfectly dry, so that 

 the sooner they are exposed to a free current of air the better ; 

 and unless they are speedily and thoroughly dried, the skin 

 will become putrid and rotten, and the hair or feathers will 

 consequently fall off. If a skin is properly dried, soon after it 

 is killed, it will keep a considerable time without any preserva- 

 tive whatever, only it will be the more liable to be attacked by in- 

 sects afterwards. 



The following excellent general directions for skinning are 

 given by Mr. Waterton : — " While dissecting, it will be of use to 

 keep in mind, that in taking off the skin from the body, by means 

 of your fingers and little knife, you must try to shove it, in lieu 

 of pulling it, lest you stretch it. 



"That you must press as lightly as possible on the bird, and 

 every now and then take a view of it, to see that the feathers, &c. , 

 are all right. 



"That when you come to the head, you must take care 

 that the body of the skin rest on your knee , for if you allow it 

 to dangle from your hand, its own weight will stretch it too 

 much. 



"That, throughout the whole operation, as fast as you de- 

 tach the skin from the body, you must put cotton immediately 

 betwixt the body and it, and this will effectually prevent 

 any fat, blood, or moisture, from coming in contact with the plu- 

 mage. 



' ' As you can seldom get a bird without shooting it, a line or 

 two on this head will be necessary. If the bird be still alive, 

 press it hard, with your finger and thumb, just behind the wings, 



