SKINNING AND PREPARING BIRDS. 
wool, and some absorbing powder, — either burnt alum powdered, 
flour of sulphur, or plaster of Paris ; and having stuffed a little 
cotton into the mouth, and tied or sewed the mandibles together 
to prevent the mucous discharge which sometimes takes place, 
to the great injury of the plumage, lay the bird on its back 
on a bench or table covered with a clean white cloth, with the 
head towards the left hand of the operator ; part the feathers 
carefully on the breast, and with a sharp knife or scalpel, the 
handle of which it will be convenient to have with a spatula, 
make an incision from the sternum or breast-bone to the vent, 
just deep enough to cut the skin without penetrating the flesh 
or intestines. Raise the edge of the skin with the sharp edge 
of the handle of the knife, and turn it back, cutting with the 
knife where necessary, until the thigh-bone is reached. Having 
done so, seize the leg and foot with one hand and the skin 
with the other, and push the skin forward over the thigh 
until the middle joint condyles of the thigh-bone become visible; 
cut this through so as to leave the thigh-bone and leg attached 
to the skin. Having done the same with the other side, the 
lower part of the bird is entirely divested of its skin as far 
as the tail. Having introduced the blade of a small knife 
between the skin and the back -bone, under the root of the tail, 
draw it upwards so as to cut through the rump-bone, taking 
care that the skin is not injured in so doing. How lay hold 
of the carcase by the rump -bone with one hand, or, better still, 
attach a hook to the rump -bone and suspend the carcase by 
it, and draw the skin gently but forcibly towards the head ; 
the skin will readily peel off as far as the wings, the plumage 
being of course inverted. The wings are now separated from 
the body by cutting off the humerus, or fore-arm, where it joins 
the body. The skin will now fall over the head, and, by gently 
pulling it over the vertebrae of the neck, the crown will be 
exposed. The bird is now as represented in the engraving ; the 
7 . 337 
