CHAPTER II. 
SKINNING BIRDS. 
Section I. : Ordinary Method. — The only 
instruments that I use in removing the skin of 
birds ordinarily is a simple knife of a peculiar form 
(see Fig. 3) ; but I like to have a pair of dissecting 
scissors by me to be used in cases given further 
on. I also have plenty of cotton, and either 
Indian meal or dermal preservative at hand to 
absorb blood and other juices. 
To remove the skin from the bird, first see that 
the mouth is plugged with cotton, and if it is, 
note if this be dry, if not remove it and substitute 
fresh. It is also well to note if the bird be flex- 
ible, for if rigid it is extremely difficult to skin, 
and it is always best to wait until this peculiar 
rigidity of the muscles, which follows death in 
all vertebrate animals, shall have passed. This 
occurs in warm weather in much less time than in 
o 
Fig. 3. 
33 
