462 
SALTED SKINS. 
Rub an abundance of «alt on inside of skin—better give it an overdose than too 
little. Be careful to place an extra amount of salt about the skull, also on the wings 
and around the bones of legs and tail, then turn skin right side out. If the speci¬ 
men is large—say an eagle or heron—remember to cut slits in soles of feet and pull 
tendons (sinews) out, and with a blunt pointed stick, or long stuffing forceps push 
alum* in cavities leit by the removal of tendons. 
Turn legs and feet inside of opening on belly, place a little tow, small wad of 
crumpled paper, or a handful of dried grass or moss in space from which body was 
taken, then turn head and neck down on breast; turn tail over abdomen and lay 
wings over head and tail. Wrap the specimen in a stout piece of paper, not neglect¬ 
ing, of course, to label it with the necessary data, and lay it away to dry. Skins 
treated in this manner take up much less space than if prepared otherwise, and if 
properly cured with plenty of salt, they will keep for a longtime if kept where 
rats, insects or other vermin will not attack them. 
Although I have known salted specimens to be kept several years without being 
injured or spoiling, it is safer to mount or make over such skins as soon as practi¬ 
cable. 
How to Wash and Dry Salted Skins. f 
To properly mount or make over a salted skin, the taxidermist must exercise con¬ 
siderable care and-patience. Remove all the salt. This is best accomplished by 
taking the specimen and immersing it repeatedly in a tub of tepid water, to which a 
little soap or small quantity of washing soda should be added, until thoroughly re¬ 
laxed, then turning it inside out (as shown in Fig. Ill, page -) and carefully 
washing oft' all the salt. 
The best way to remove salt is to hold the specimen under a stream of water—not 
too strong or the skin may be torn—from spigot of a hydrant or a pump. After 
thoroughly cleansing it of salt, wipe off excessive water, and turn skin right side 
out, same as if it was a fresh skin. If the specimen is large, like a heron, goose, 
eagle or swan, take it in the yard and hang it in the sunlight on a clothes-line or 
rope, sufficiently high that a cat, dog or meddlesome child will not disturb it. Leave 
it there until it drains off— i. c. until water ceases to drip—then take marble-dust 
(best) orfinecornmeal (alwaysuse marble-dust when working with white-plumaged 
birds, such as egrets, swans, etc.), and sprinkle it on the plumage ; gently work the 
feathers with soft brush until the plumage becomes dry. When the feathers are 
thoroughly dried and the marble-dust is brushed out, apply arsenic and the speci¬ 
men is ready to be mounted or made into a skin. 
Salted skins in the hands of a competent workman—one who understands how to 
treat them—can be mounted as well as freshly skinned birds. 
Never ship salted skins with other specimens; always keep them in boxes, 
drawers or cases by themselves. 
Sportsmen are often anxious to keep trophies of their skill but fail to do so, when 
in the field, because they cannot make skins and taxidermists are not within their 
reach. To such individuals or to those desiring to have specimens stuffed” but 
are prevented from attempting the work themselves through fear of handling 
arsenic, the method of salting is recommended. 
Note.—I f you have salted specimens and you lake them to a taxidermist, be cer¬ 
tain to learn first if he knows how to “work up” such material, and if he does not, 
do not let him experiment at your expense, but go to some one who does know how 
to handle such work. Should you fail to take this precaution the chances are vour 
specimens will be ruined. 
* Although salt will answer the purpose, alwaysuse powdered alum. It is very difficult to remove all 
particles of salt from inside of legs when one is preparing the specimens for mounting, and if all the salt 
is not removed it soon destroys the wires. 
fTlie author learned this method from Prof. August Koch, of Williamsport, Penna., who has em¬ 
ployed it with great success for the last fifteen years, in his extensive field experience in the Western 
Southern and Middle States. 
