80 
800. OF AM. TAXIDEKMIST8, ANNUAL EEPOET. 
it to reiuain fifteen or twenty minutes ^ then take it out wlien 
there is a current of air and give it a good, long beating and 
brushing with a “bird’s wing-brush,” and broad, soft camel’s 
hair brush. 
The success of the specimen depends now upon the care given 
in brushing and beating. It wdll not do to break the quills or 
separate the web of the feathers during the operation, or the 
specimen will look rough and ragged. 
The specimen must be thoroughly dry in order to remove all 
the particles of paste. It will tax the perseverance and patience 
of the operator to remove all of it, so that it will not sift out 
all over the pedestal when the specimen is thoroughly dry. 
If any plaster is allowed to remain in a bird, which has black 
or dark plumage, it will make it look badly. It is not the grease 
altogether that disfigures a black specimen ; it is the accumulation 
of dust which mixes with the oil, and forms a gummy substance 
on the plumage. 
It is more difficult to remove stains from white birds, but it 
can be successfully accomplished, if they have not been allowed 
to remain too long. They have, however, the advantage over 
black plumaged birds, in showing less signs of the presence of 
plaster after being cleaned. 
If the plumage seems to persistently hold the plaster this in- 
dicates plainly that the grease has not all been cut ; so apply more 
turpentine, then plaster, and thoroughly shake and beat as be- 
fore. Often I have been compelled to returpentine and replaster 
a bird three times before all signs of grease were satisfactorily 
removed. 
During very warm and dry weather all birds clean much easier 
than in moist and rainy weather. If I have many specimens to 
mount that require cleaning, which often happens when any taxi- 
dermist is mounting water-birds, I hail with pleasure a dry, 
warm day, and if a good stiff wind is blowing, that will carry 
away the clouds of plaster that arise from the bird when first 
beaten, the pleasure is increased. 
At no time is the task of cleaning a bird a pleasant one. When 
the specimen is small it is not so exasperating, but when the speci- 
men happens to be a swan, with its great, dense mass of downy 
