HOW TO MAKE A OOOD BIKD SKIN. 
8.3 
bird’s neck. Taking one end in the tweezers run it np the neck 
of the skin until it protrudes from the month, and the other from 
the incision made in the skin. Now, with the tweezers take hold 
of the end of each wing bone and pull them down until the sec- 
ond joint of the wing appears, and the two lay parallel to each 
other. This places the wings in a natural position. A piece of 
cotton, rolled into a hall about the size and shape of the body re- 
moved, is next inserted in the skin beneath the longer piece that 
serves for a neck. Now, take a stitch and bring the two edges 
of the incision together. 
The wings probably may liave been slightly disarranged, so a 
little manipulation is all that is required to put them in their 
proper shape. By pulling on the cotton protruding from the 
mouth the length of the neck may be regulated, and when satis- 
factory cut off the end close to and tie the bill. Now, smooth 
all the feathers of the bird and label. 
For making a first-class skin I think that drying in a sheet of 
thin cotton is the best. The edges of the cotton may be brought 
together and pinned. This allows you to give a good form to 
the skin, and the wings may be nicely fixed before pinning tlie 
cotton. When making many skins, the paper cone may be used 
to good advantage ; but care must be taken not to make it too 
small, or the skin will be long and slender, and the feathers veiy 
closely pressed together, which is not good, provided you ever 
wish to mount the bird. 
The cone should be large enough for the specimen to lay 
loosely therein, with no pressure on its breast. 
In making up large birds, such as ducks, hawks, &c., it is 
better not to skin the wing beyond the first joint, but open on 
tlie underside and remove the flesh, then apply the preservative 
and sew up. By this means the quills preserve tlieir natural 
position, and the wings shut up as in nature. 
I think generally it is well to make up large skins in cotton, 
l)ut oftentimes stiff wrapping paper is a good substitute, pro- 
vided a thin layer of cotton is first placed upon it ; then lay the 
bird thereon and pin the edges of the paper together. It is well 
to wat(‘.h large skins when drying and see that the skin is prop- 
erly shaped, and that the wings lay neatly, otherwise if neglected 
