97 
separately from the rest of the skin. The remainder of the skin with the 
other wing may be stuffed and wrapped like an ordinary study skin and 
makes a good cabinet specimen. Each part of the skin should carry a 
label with the same catalogue number, and if necessary the severed wing 
may be relaxed and attached to the body again later. 
Poisoning Bird Skins 
If the skin is to be treated with arsenical soap, the soap is better 
applied while the whole skin is wrong side out. Paint the whole surface 
of the skin, the skull, the wing and leg bones with a thin wash, seeing that 
Figure 33. Tying wing bones in natural position. 
the inside of the wings and the base of the tail are liberally treated. Then 
sift fine hardwood sawdust over the whole, damp, poisoned surface to pre- 
vent the arsenical soap from rubbing oft on the feathers and on the 
operator’s hands. The head skin being soft and lubricated with the soap, 
it may now be turned right side out by gradually coaxing with the fingers 
(Figure 34). Holding the skin by the bill and gently pulling at the same 
time, the head skin will soon slip into place, and by gradually working 
the skin from the outside the feathers will arrange themselves in their 
proper places. The appearance of the feathers on crown and cheeks may 
be improved by thrusting the end of a knitting needle or the head of a 
large darning needle through the eyelids and working it around under the 
under side of the skin, stirring up the feather roots. 
