93 
the skin over the head all at once, but work it slowly from all points, gradu- 
ally stretching the skin until it slips over the widest part of the skull. The 
amount of strain that the skin will stand without breaking, both in skin- 
ning and in slipping back over the skull, can only be learned by practice. 
If the head skin splits along the side during the operation it is hard to 
mend without leaving a trace, but a few stitches with fine needle and thread 
during the stuffing operations may possibly repair most of the damage. As 
the back of the head comes through, there is seen on each side the mem- 
branous tube of skin running into the aperture of the ear. These bits of ear 
skin may be pulled from their hollows by grasping them between the nails 
of thumb and forefinger, or with the forceps. In some large birds it is 
necessary to cut the skin of the ears as close to the skull as possible to 
avoid leaving an opening visible on the outside. 
To remove bra ini first cot directly across roof of mouth with 
points of scissor-s 
Second, 
, mare on 
incision from 
each end of preceding cut within branches 
. of the mandibles to base of sru/t, pier out piece 
• 1 of bone with flesh and part of brain attached and 
clean remainder 
Figure 30. Detaching body and cleaning skull. 
A little farther on the eyeballs appear under their transparent mem- 
brane which connects the eyelids with the eyeball. Cut through this mem- 
brane carefully but be sure not to cut the eyelid. A cut eyelid can never 
be properly mended. The loose membrane should be carefully trimmed 
away from the eyelid or it will be in the w r ay when the cotton filling is put 
in the eyeball. Continue skinning to the base of the bill, where the feathers 
stop, both above and below (Figure 29). 
Pry the eyeballs out of their sockets with the handle of a scalpel 
or with the large forceps, but avoid breaking the eyeballs, as the juice is 
almost sure to run out through the eyelids and gum up the feathers of the 
head and neck. Owls and other birds which have eyeballs stiffened with 
bony plates should have the eyeballs left in place, but they should be 
punctured and drained (See page 110). The tongue and floor of the throat 
may be pulled away with the forceps, cutting where necessary in large 
birds (Figure 30). 
