7 
would be very acceptable. The bones being boiled to admit of an 
easy removal of the flesh, and subsequently dried, might be put in- 
to a bag, and packed with muss, cotton, dry sea- weed, or any other 
soft substance, that will pre ent their injuring' each other. All the 
small and fragile bones should be carefully wrapped up ; and those 
belonging to the same part, should be in the same envelope. No 
bone, however small, should be lost. 
BIRDS. 
There are two methods employed in skinning these. The first 
consists in carefully separating the feathers from the breast to the 
tail, and dividing the skin so far as to be able to draw out the legs, 
and separate them from the body ; then cut off the flesh from them, 
but leave the bones with the skin. Detach the tail, and invert the* 
skin towards the head, letting the small bone near the tail remain 
with the skin, or the tad feathers will be liable to fall off. Disjoint 
the wings, and dissect off the flesh, leaving the bones as in the legs. 
Continue to draw off the skin until you arrive at the skull ; then 
cut off a piece of this with the neck., which will separate the body 
from the head. Remove from the skull the flesh and brains. 
To prevent the feathers at the edges of the incision from be- 
ing soiled during skinning, pin pieces of paper over them. 
In the second method, the incision is made under the wing. Dis- 
joint the wing, and commence skinning toward the neck ; when 
you have reached this, separate it, and continue toward the other 
wing ; proceed in this manner until you get the skin from the body. 
Then remove the flesh from the wings and legs, and skin out the 
neck. The tongue and eyes should also be removed. Having 
properly washed the skin, stuff with sufficient tow to prevent the 
sides from adhering, and pack until time will allow of setting them 
up ; when they may easily be rendered supple, by introducing a 
cloth wet with warm water. If possible, a male and female, old 
and young, should be procured ; for birds alter so materially from 
these circumstances, as sometimes to be mistaken for distinct and 
even new species. The skeletons of large birds should also be 
procured ; and the nests and eggs of all. The latter may be pre- 
served by making a hole in one end, emptying them of their con- 
tents, and filling with wax, or leaving them empty. In shooting, 
proportion your shot to the different sizes of birds. When killed, 
wipe away as much of the blood as possible, sprinkle fine dry sand 
upon the wound, and put a little cotton, tow, or moss, in the beak, 
to prevent blood from flowing and soiling the plumage. When 
soiled, clean with sponge and warm water. There will be little 
danger of soiling the exterior, if we wait until the head has become 
cold, and the blood coagulated. It may then be taken by the tail 
and claws, placed in paper twisted in the form of a cone, and be 
carried to the place selected for skinning. 
INSECTS. 
In catching these, caution must be used not to injure them, by 
breaking their legs, wings, and more particularly feelers ; or by 
