18 
Absorbents 
Fine hardwood sawdust, such as is used by tanners in cleaning furs, 
is the best absorbent for use while skinning either mammals or birds. Maple 
or birch sawdust is preferable to oak or redwood, as the latter may cause 
stains if wet. Hardwood sawdust may be obtained in quantity from furni- 
ture factories or tanners. The very finest grades such as boxwood sawdust, 
which is favoured by furriers for “drumming” fine furs (prolonged shaking 
up in a revolving drum), are much like flour, and are not as good for field 
use as slightly coarser grades, which give a better grip and are easier to 
brush out of fur or feathers. The sawdust may be used over and over 
again, and the dirty and bloody parts thrown away each time. It is best 
kept in a waterproof bag, such as a paraffined “grub-bag”, which can be 
tied tightly and the mouth rolled down when in use. Three to five pounds 
of sawdust will last for hundreds of small specimens. Use sawdust freely, 
putting on pinches or handfuls from the beginning of skinning operations 
to absorb any grease, blood, serum, or intestinal fluids. Professional trap- 
pers will find a little bag of sawdust an invaluable aid in skinning opera- 
tions, as it helps keep the fur clean, and if the skin is lined with greasy 
fascia?, a coating of sawdust gives enough grip that adherent matter may 
be more easily pulled or scraped off. 
Pine or other softwood sawdust may be used, but is not as satisfactory 
as hardwood, being usually coarse and containing gummy and pitchy sub- 
stances that detract from its absorbent qualities. 
Fine cornmeal is about as good as sawdust for this purpose, and some 
collectors prefer it on bird skins, as fine sawdust has a tendency to stick in 
the feathers. The writer is accustomed to keep little bags of both sawdust 
and cornmeal on hand, using the cornmeal on bodies that are destined for 
the cooking pot. Sawdust is hard to remove from the flesh, and in the 
field it is often desirable to keep your specimen as well as eat it. When 
hungry-eyed comrades watch the skinning of scientific specimens, it is well 
to make concessions to the commissary. 
Dry powdered clay, sand, dust, or wood ashes may be used for absorb- 
ent in emergency. Dry powdered whiting (purified calcium carbonate), 
such as that used as an ingredient in putty, or for cleaning silver and 
brass, is a useful absorbent on fresh shot wounds, and when dry may be 
crumbled and brushed off, taking away most of the stain. The writer 
usually carries a small bottle or can of either whiting or cornmeal in his 
pocket to absorb fresh blood from gun shot wounds. Ordinary wheat flour 
should not be used, as it forms a sticky paste. Plaster of Paris is much used 
by taxidermists for cleaning bird skins after washing, but it has the dis- 
advantage of leaving a light powdery bloom on the feathers, particularly 
unsightly if they are of dark colour. Chapin (1929) recommends as the 
best material for cleaning feathers, a mixture of plaster of Paris and potato 
starch or potato flour (equal volumes), stating that it may be used in 
place of cornmeal throughout, and acts far more rapidly. 
Cleaning Materials 
Blood and grease should be removed as thoroughly as possible after 
the skin has been removed and before putting in the filling material. If 
blood is allowed to dry into the hair or feathers it is very hard to remove. 
Especially is it important to keep blood from touching the feathers. With 
