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eight complete or partial sets will ordinarily be sufficient for a collecting 
trip as forms can be used repeatedly as each successive specimen becomes 
dry. 
Skinning Birds with Large Heads 
Some birds, such as many woodpeckers and ducks, have abnormally 
large heads, and necks so small that the neck skin cannot be stretched 
enough to slip over the head. In such cases, the neck is cut ofF and the 
skin turned right side out. A slit is cut from the middle of the crown along 
the back of the head and neck, far enough to allow the skull to be skinned 
and the brain, eyes, and tongue removed in the same manner as with other 
birds (Figure 40). The necessary stuffing is put into the orbits and the 
back of the skull and the slit neatly sewn up again. The cut will usually 
Figure 40. Skinning large-headed birds. 
be hidden by the feathers. Some birds that have a horny crest may need 
to have the head skinned through a slit on the lower side of the throat. 
Ducks for mounting as “dead-game” pieces, or when the skin is damaged 
on one side, may have the head skinned by a slit along the defective side. 
Wings and Feet of Large Birds 
The wings of large birds contain considerable fleshy and ligamentary 
matter, as well as skin that cannot be reached and poisoned from the inside. 
A slit must be made along the under side of the wing, from the elbow to a 
point near the tip of wing where the feathers are fewest, all flesh and 
tendons must be removed, and the skin poisoned (Figure 32). In the larger 
birds the skin must be worked loose around the wrist joint (bend of the 
wing) so that the poison can get in. The slit may be closed by a few 
stitches, but not tightly enough to keep the air out. The upper arm bones 
of large birds should be wrapped with cotton to keep them from contact 
with the skin while drying. 
Major Allan Brooks does not consider it necessary to either tie or 
stitch the wings of large birds in place, but just fills out around the ends of 
