11 
turns them into the skin. In like manner, the skin is separated 
in the wings from the soft parts, these removed, the bones 
and skin anointed or rubbed, and the former wrapped and re¬ 
turned into the skin. This separation of the skin on the wing 
should be carried only to the joint next the fracture. If there 
be so much flesh on the lower or outer parts of the wing as to 
require removal, it should be done by a distinct incision made 
on the under side of the wing. In which case, after anointing 
or rubbing the interior with the preservative, the edges of the 
incision should be carefully brought together. 
This being accomplished, the head and skin of the neck 
should be anointed, or well rubbed with a preservative, and 
placed in their natural position. Before returning it, however, 
the cavity of the eye should be filled with a small ball of tow ? 
flax, or cotton. If an incision has been made in the neck, this 
should be carefully stitched up. A loosely-rolled string of tow 
or flax should be drawn through and left in the neck. The 
interior of the skin of the body is then anointed with the soap or 
rubbed with a preservative, a roll of tow, flax, or cotton, about 
the size of the body introduced; and the skin drawn nicely 
over it. As the skin, however, is liable to be distorted or con¬ 
tracted in drying, it is well to take the measure of the length 
of the body of the bird on a light stick or reed, and introduce 
this into the cavity, with the last roll of tow or other material, 
as a guide to the stuffer. 
It is not always possible to tell, from the plumage or other 
external characters, the sex of the bird the operator has in his 
hands. It is therefore necessary, in cases of doubt, to preserve 
the body for examination to settle the question. This exam¬ 
ination is made by an incision across the abdomen and turning 
out the intestines. Beneath these, by the side of or on the back 
bone, a little above the pelvis, two small bodies in the male, 
and one in the female, will be found. At certain seasons of the 
year, in many birds, these bodies are so small as to be discov¬ 
ered with difficulty. It will be well, therefore, for the operator 
to make the examination frequently on birds whose sexes may 
be known by other indications, so as to familiarize himself with 
the subject. Before dismissing the remains, the operator should 
