98 
Cleaning the Plumage 
Before filling the skin, look for blood or grease stains on the feathers. 
If the bird has been cleanly killed and carefully skinned, it should need 
no further cleaning beyond brushing out dust, cornmeal, and sawdust. 
The time-honoured method of cleaning a thoroughly dirty bird skin 
is to wash the feathers with water containing a little washing soda. Wipe 
off the excess of water with a cloth, and sponge with turpentine or gasoline 
so that plaster will not “ set ” in the damp feathers. Heap plaster of Paris 
over the skin and rub it into the feathers, beating it out immediately with 
a flexible switch. The main objection to this method is that the plaster is 
hard to get entirely out of the feathers, and is almost sure to leave a light 
powdery bloom, particularly noticeable on dark feathers. 
Figure 34. Turning head skin back over skull. 
A better method is to clean the feathers with a small, rather stiff 
brush dipped in clear water, or to sponge them off with a clean wet rag 
or bunch of cotton, stroking in the same direction as the lay of the 
feathers. Hydrogen peroxide will remove obstinate blood stains and will 
not bleach the feathers if dried at once. The feathers must be dried care- 
fully to fluff them out and get rid of the stringy, “ drowned rat ” appear- 
ance. In the field, this is usually done by sifting on cornmeal or other 
absorbent powder, rubbing it into the bases of the feathers, and lifting the 
feathers and brushing them lightly with a nail brush. Repeat the operation 
until the feathers are entirely dry. Fine cornmeal or any starchy meal that 
does not become sticky when wet is a good absorbent powder. Chapin 
(1929) recommends a mixture of plaster of Paris and potato starch or 
potato flour (equal volumes) as the best material for cleaning feathers. 
Dry, powdered clay or wood ashes may even be employed on dull-coloured 
skins. The powders may be dried and used over again, any dirty lumps 
having been thrown away. Shake the powder out of the skin or beat the 
skin gently, in the sunshine and wind if possible. A pair of small hand 
