SKINNING BIRDS. 
35 
on that side upward. This will disclose the 
second joint of the leg, or knee proper. Pass the 
knife under this joint, and, by cutting against the 
thumb, cut it completely off, a matter easily ac- 
complished in small birds ; rub a little absorbent 
on either side of the severed joint ; then grasping 
the end of the tibia firmly between the thumb and 
forefinger of the right hand, draw it outward. At 
the same time, the skin of the leg should be 
pressed downward by the fingers of the right hand 
to prevent tearing. The leg is thus easily exposed, 
and should be, as a rule, skinned to the tarsal 
joint. With the thumb-nail, nip off the extreme 
tip of the tibial bone, and strip the flesh off the 
remainder of the bone by a downward pull ; then 
give the whole a twist, and cut all the tendrils at 
once. Of course the flesh may be removed from 
the bone by scraping, etc., but the above is the 
best method, and in case of large birds, break the 
end of the tibia with pliers. Turn the bird end for 
end, and proceed the same with the other leg, but 
during both operations the bird should not be 
raised from the bench. Now peel away the skin 
about the tail, place the forefinger under its base, 
and cut downward through the caudal vertebra 
and muscles of the back quite to the skin, the 
