272 



ON PRESERVING BIRDS. 



except touching it with, the solution from the outside. 

 Take all the flesh from the remaining joint of the 

 wing, and tie a thread about four inches long to the end 

 of it ; touch all with the solution, and put the wing- 

 bone back into its place. In baring this bone you 

 must by no means pull the skin; you would tear it 

 to pieces beyond all doubt, for the ends of the long 

 feathers are attached to the bone itself; you must push 

 off the skin with your thumb-nail and fore-finger. 

 Now skin the thigh quite to the knee ; cut away all 

 flesh and tendons, and leave the bone : form an arti- 

 ficial thigh round it with cotton ; apply the solution, 

 and draw back the skin over the artificial thigh : the 

 same to the other thigh. 



Lastly, proceed to the tail; take out the inside of 

 the oil-gland, remove all the remaining flesh from the 

 root, till you see the ends of the tail feathers ; give it 

 the solution, and replace it. Now take out all the cotton 

 which you have been putting into the body from time 

 to time to preserve the feathers from grease and stains. 

 Place the bird upon your knee on its back ; tie together 

 the two threads which you had fastened to the end of 

 the wing-joints, leaving exactly the same space betwixt 

 them as your knowledge in anatomy informs you 

 existed there when the bird was entire ; hold the 

 skin open with your finger and thumb, and apply 

 the solution to every part of the inside. Neglect 

 the head and neck at present ; they are to receive it 

 afterwards. 



Fill the body moderately with cotton, lest the feathers 

 on the belly should be injured whilst you are about 

 the following operation. You must recollect that half 

 of the thigh, or in other words, one joint of the thigh- 



