opening in the side of
this near the back bone the inside surface of the small of the back is
exposed. In the case of the male there will be visible two rounded
bodies, varying in size with the season and species, and in the female a
flattened mass of spheres.

After labeling and fastening the bill together with a pin or thread the
skin should be slipped inside a paper tube to dry. Water birds with long
slender necks should have the head bent around beside the body and the
long legs of waders are bent at the ankle and left resting on the body;
this to prevent breakage.

Duck, geese and any fat birds need the inside of the skins well scraped,
sponged with gasoline, partly filled with plaster paris and left for
several hours so all grease may be absorbed. This grease should be
removed prior to applying the preservative as it will prevent any
effectual penetration by the latter.

After cleaning either the inside or out of a skin with plaster it will
be necessary to gently beat it with a whisk broom or something similar
to dislodge the particles of plaster. A current of air (from a bicycle
pump, for instance) will remove the dust from the feathers when dry.

[Illustration: SCIENTIFIC SKINS, SMALL ANIMALS AND BIRDS.]

Fewest dry scientific skins are made up from the quadrupeds, but in case
the matter of transportation prevents wet preservation or they are
wanted dry the all around taxidermist must practice at making them up
also. Like the bird skin they should be thoroughly rid of flesh and fat
after skinning but do not require such finical handling. Rinsing in
water with a little washing powder or soda added will remove blood
stains and some grease but the benzine bath with the drying after, as
recommended in the chapter on tanning, etc., will be needed in case of
very fat specimens.

All small animals are made up about the same as birds, wrapping the leg
bones in tow, oakum or cotton and filling out the body with the same
material. The skull cleaned and poisoned had best be put in the centre
of the body with the filling, when it can be found at any time by
ripping a few of the stitches.

The skin of the head is filled out with the same material and the tail
may either be bent up under the body or drawn together by a few stitches
around a wrapped wire extending into the body half its length. Of course
the operator will see that the entire inner surface of the skin is
treated liberally with some preservative, arseni