The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-14
BIRDS IN STILL LIFE.
HOwTo SECURE, SKIN AND MOUNT
THEM

plementS-doW TO Remove Blood
Stains, Etc.
Copyright. 1917
New YORK, June 13.-We hunt birds be-
cause they contribute to our qualification In
at least four ways; we eat them, wear them
as personal adornments, we adopt them as
pets and we mount them. The work of
Audubon more than any other writer kim
died an interest in American birds, and
every year in the United States and Canada
since the publication of this book there are
thousands who devote part Of their holt
days to the collection of birds for mounting.
They begin early in the year ranging all
the forests and the plains, each one secur-
ing his favorite birds. Bird collection has
become one of the chief occupations of
large number OF campers out latterly. /
propose in this article TO show, in a simple
way, all the steps necessary from the killing
OF bird to the putting of it In place in
your private museum. l may say that it is
not necessary to take lessons of taxider-
mist in order to be able to skin and mount
birds. provided you have intelligence and
defines of hand. 1t would be a good plan,
of course. for beginner TO consult with
some one who has skinned and mounted
birds, and to observe the operation before
making the attempt himself.
In collecting birds, as in making any other
collection, one naturally has preferences.
If your favorite birds be nightingales, bob
olinks, golden wings. brushes, o ID Audu-
bon or one of the other recognized authori-
ties on birds, ascertaining the region where
your favoriue may be found in plenty; then
set up camp there.
Every bird collector ought to be able to
shoot his own birds, and of course every
true sportsman will take bis trophy on the
wing and not perched, which consider
murder. Unless large birds, such as looms,
ha wks, cormorants and such like, are de-
sired should prefer light, small-bore gun,
using what is often known among dealers
as mustard shot. as this does not make
large holes in the skin. But the mere shoot
ing and mounting of bird are not the only
points to be considered.
Every collector should study the natural
history Of the bird, ascertaining its meth
DDS of nesting, the kind Of ground or tree
in which it builds its nest: he should be able
to recognize Its eggs and know the number
it lays, and be familiar with the kind OF
trees, branches, grasses or small bushes that
it selects for its chief abiding or hiding
place. Knowing all this it will be easy 10
construct bit of miniature landscape that
will be at once beautiful and true to nature.
For example, If you want to depict king
fisher about to thrust himself forth in the
morning into the water for his usual break
fast OF minhows, have him upon a dead
willow limb his head thrust eagerly down
ward. IL the purpose Is to show a grackle
in a jubilant mood poise him high with his
head we'll up in spray of alder bushes
The different members OF the grouse family
afford scope for very attractive arrange
ment. But be careful about your minia-
ture landscape. Surround the LdgopuS
dtbuS, or willow grouse, with willows or
gray and brown branches; and the lagopus
fupestris, or rock prarmigan with ground
clad with heath, or groundberry leaves, in
terspersed with rocks If the bird has been
obtained in winter il will be white, so the
effect Of snow will be necessary. for most
of the wild birds frequent habitats the
color Of which corresponds with their pIum-
age. Have all the waders among tall water
weeds, grasses or sedges, and put a bit Of
barrens around the geese and brants
Let me first describe the tools necessary
for removing the skins from birds:
l. Pliers five or six inches long, having q
wire cutting attachment; price sixty-five
cents
3. A cartilage knife" or common pocket
knife; about seventy-fye cents.
4. An ordinary fat file; twenty five cents.
5. Three or four gimlets of different sizes
ten cents each.
6. A pair of suffers forceps, five to six
inches long; seventy-dve cents.
z. A filler which is contrived by putting
q piece of stiff wire into handle and curv-
ing and fattening out the outer end.
The Indispensable materials are as follows
ta) A quantity of fine tow.
(b) Corn meal and plaster of paris, sep
arate.
(cl As much excelsior as is needed.
ID Powdered arsenic and alum, mixed.
(e) An assortment Of glass eyes according
to requirements.
q A quantity of annealed iron wire Of
10, ID, 16, Is. sizes.
(g) Modelling clay, which may be obtained
at any pottery for say three cents pound,
and falling to obtain this, putty, which
should be worked very soft.
(h) Arsenic soap, a cup and paint brush,
which would be necessary for the skins OF
large birds.
d Linen thread No. 40 being best.
ID A bottle of benzine or turpentine. All
tools and materials may be carried in a
small grip, though of course the obtaining
and preservation Of the skins are all that
! need concern you in camp. The stuffing
and mounting ought to be done at home
when possible. The greatest care should be
observed to prevent the plumage of the bird
from being blood soaked or discolored. II
should not be shot at too close a range and
the moment 1t falls it should be carefully
picked up, if it is dead. II it Is alive it
should be quietly strangled. Then ascertain
| the shot wounds and plug them SO that the
blood shall not get upon the feathers; also
| carefully plug the mouth, nostrils and vent.
| Should any blood get upon tbs feathers,
remove it with the forefinger and thumb by
squeezing, and afterward sponge carefully
| with warm water, but benzine or turpen-
tine will also remove the stains. When the
spot is clean rub in quantity Of plaster of
| paris, which will absorb the moisture an !
then whip out the plaster with a light stiff
wire, after which the plumage will assume
its natural fluffy appearance.
The bird Is now ready for skinning; the
| first step is to break both the large wing
bones close to the joint of the shoulder.
Place the bird upon its back at your right
side, Its head turned toward the left. Then
| with the fingers of the left hand part the
| feathers in a straight line along the keel OF
| the breast bone and down TO the vent.
| Take yonr knife which should be as keen
as a razor, holding it as yeu would pen
and lay open the skin along the line marked
out, being careful not 70 cut into the abdo-
men. Then with the greatest ease the skin
| is detached; draw it down on the left side
till the knee joint is exposed; next take the
| leg in your left hand, pushing up through
the skin, and sever at the joint with knife
or pair of scissors; the scissors are best
because the cutting can be done with q
couple OF ships.
Now push the leg still further up until
the skin, inside OUT, is drawn to the lowest