CHAPTER III. 
MAKING SKINS. 
Section I.: Cleaning Feathers. — If a bird 
is bloody, the feathers may be washed either in 
turpentine or water. Saturate a rag or piece of 
cotton, and clean off the blood, which if dry may 
require some soaking. Try to keep the water 
from spreading as much as possible, but be sure 
that every particle of clotted blood is removed and 
the spot washed thoroughly. Then dry by cover- 
ing the spot well with either plaster or dermal pre- 
servative, the latter being preferable as it never 
bleaches the plumage. This should be worked 
well into the feathers with a soft brush, aided by 
the fingers, applying a fresh supply constantly 
until all the moisture is absorbed ; then dust with 
a soft duster. In case of grease-spots, if fresh, 
use the dermal preservative alone, but if old and 
yellow use benzine to start the grease, and then dry 
with preservative, when it will generally be found 
that all stains will be removed ; but in some cases 
two or three applications of benzine may be neces- 
49 
