Bird Skinning and Mounting. 19 



previously done so,* with cotton, and we are 

 ready to begin 



SKINNING. 



Lay the bird on its back, its head towards 

 your right hand, and run the handle of your 

 scalpel from the sternum, or breast bone, to the 

 anus. In so doing you will see there is a little 

 naked place, in many birds, all the way down. 

 Stroke the feathers away right and left, leaving 

 this bare, and inserting the point of the scissors 

 at the end of the sternum, cut down to and into 

 the anus (taking care not to cut through the thin 

 belly walls ; if this is done, fill the place with 

 cotton, or disembowel) ; stopping here, as this 

 makes a good strong termination that will not 

 easily tear. Take the forceps in the right hand, 

 and seize one edge of the skin. Holding this, 

 press and push (never pull) the skin from the 

 sides and belly walls. Care must be taken that 

 the feathers do not get into the cut and thus 

 become soiled. Keep stroking them away, right 

 and left, and place a little fluff of cotton, tissue 

 paper, or white pine sawdust, under them. After 



* See Hunting and Hygiene. 



