57 
a wisp of cotton or bit of cloth wrapped around the tip of a small stick 
may be used. Dip the wet skin into dry sawdust and shake off at once 
any sawdust that does not adhere. The poisoned skin will be coated with 
sawdust and if handled gently very little arsenical soap need touch the 
hands. The water with the soap makes the skin soft and flexible at all 
points, so that it can be easily shaped. Beginners, and any who may be 
interrupted or delayed in the skinning and cleaning process, may find that 
a small skin has dried in spots. If dry preservative is being used (arsenic, 
alum, borax, saltpetre) the skin should be sponged or moistened with a 
wet rag or bunch of cotton dipped in water, or the skin may be worked 
up with wet fingers. 
Many collectors faced with several specimens prefer to do all the 
skinning at one time and stuff the skins later after the whole lot have been 
skinned and cleaned. This plan has some advantages in the way of effici- 
ency, and saves time. The plan is excellent in hot weather when no ice 
is at hand and when the difference of an hour or so will start specimens 
on the way to decomposition. The skins may be rapidly removed and 
placed in a tin box with tight cover, or a box with damp sand or sawdust 
in the bottom. When the bodies of the specimens are to be used as food 
(as with ducks, grouse, plovers, etc.) it is better to finish the skinning 
operations and get the meat out of the way before the poison is brought 
out. When operations are conducted in this wholesale manner, great care 
