ZOOLOGY. 



151 



t'lculars worthy of notice, on a similar plan to the one 

 already annexed to the conclusion of our remarks relating 

 to Qua,drupeds ; which will point out more particularly the 

 desiderata in the history of Birds, 



Birds should not be skinned till some hours after they 

 are killed, that time may be allowed for the blood to coa- 

 gulate ; as soon as procured, the colour of the eyes, legs^ 

 any bare or carrunculated skin, or other fleshy appendages^ 

 should be carefully noted ; as these parts are all more or less 

 likely to change color soon after death. The body should 

 be opened longitudinally, from the vent to the point of the 

 Jbreast bone, either with a sharp knife or scissors, the fea- 

 thers being placed smooth on each side as the operation pro- 

 ceeds ; when the incision is made, the handle of the dissect- 

 ing knife, or a thin smooth piece of hard wood may be intro- 

 duced between the skin and flesh, and the skin loosened as 

 far back as the shoulder joints, where the bones are to be 

 separated ; this done, the skin must be drawn from off* the 

 neck, till the head appears, and should be parted at 

 either the first or second joint from the head; the skin is 

 now to be drawn backwards to the thighs, and the joints 

 carefully separated, leaving the thigh and leg bones attached 

 to the skin, which will now only adhere to the rump, this 

 had better be divided near its centre ; the more eff*ectually 

 to preserve the tail feathers : when the body is removed, 

 the skin will be left with the inside outwards, afi'ording an 

 opportunity to remove any flesh or fat that may be left ad- 

 hering, from which the skin must be thoroughly freed ; the 

 eyes, tongue, roof of the mouth, brain, and all fleshy integu* 

 ments attached to the skuU^ must be carefully removed ; after 



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