HOW TO CLEAN SOILED BIRD SKINS. 
79 
and require a treatment similar to that applied to the feathei’s 
of a relaxed skin, which have become soiled and yellow hy age 
and grease. 
We will now suppose that we have an old skin of a duck of 
some kind, a snipe, a heron, or any water-bird, all of which are 
generally very fat, especially the former. 
Assuming that it has been relaxed and the skin thoroughly 
scraped of all the loose, fatty matter, supply yourself with a large, 
shallow box, say three feet square, and furnished with a lid. In 
this box have a quantity of plaster, aliout six quarts, as it can he 
used many times. 
This will figure in the paraphernalia of the taxidermist as a 
“ plaster-box,” which is an indispensable article in a well- 
equipped establishment devoted to the preparation of birds. A 
generous supply of spirits of turpentine is also necessary if one 
desires to be very economical. hTaptha or benzine can be used, 
but the former is by all odds the best in most cases. 
Now we are ready for at least a good two hours’ work on a 
greasy duck, say a scoter or canvas-back. With a soft sponge 
or wads of cotton, saturated with turpentine, carefully apply to 
the feathers in every part, great care being required not to sepa- 
rate the web of the feather. Pass over the feathers often, 
pushing them aside, when necessary, so as to get at the base or 
root of the feathers. Riil) always with the grain ; apply pressure 
when necessary ; discard the wads of cotton when they become 
soiled and filled with grease, and replace with clean ones. Pur- 
sue this course until you are satisfied that all the stains are 
removed, and the loose, greasy substances have been cut or dis- 
solved by the turpentine. You will now have accomplished the 
greater part of the undertaking. 
The next step necessary is to spread the bird out in the plaster- 
l)ox and cover every part of the bird; let it rest then until the 
plaster has absorbed the turpentine, mixed with the grease. 
Give it a few sharp shakes ; cover again with more clean plaster, 
gently tapping with a slender rattan or stick the different parts 
of the ])ird. Then take it out, shake, cover it again, and manip- 
ulate as hefoj-e until the feathers become fluffy and assume their 
original shape and airiness. Place the Ifird in the box and allow 
