18 Handbook of Taxidermy. 



upper mandible, and open them until the other 

 is at the tip of the beak. In addition to these I 

 advise you to keep the weight of each specimen, 

 especially in the case of game birds. Set all 

 these measurements, etc., down on your label as 

 you go along; also color of eye, contents of 

 stomach (after skinning), and the number of the 

 bird. This number must correspond to a num- 

 ber in your Ornithological Ledger — a book in 

 which you should keep an account of each day's 

 doings ; the number of birds killed, the number 

 used, attitudes, etc., and whatever else may be 

 of interest to you regarding the day's shooting, 



BLOOD STAINS. 



These may be removed before skinning, by 

 gently washing with a sponge and a little water, 

 and afterwards dried by working into the feath- 

 ers pulverized plaster of Paris, or potato 

 starch, until the water is all absorbed, and the 

 feathers become dry and clean ; then shake all 

 plaster or starch from the feathers. Now fill 

 the beak, anus, and shot holes, if you have not 



