Mrs. Lance Rawson

“ Examine the skin well for any little streaks of fat, and cut them off carefully. Tie the wings into position with pieces of thread. Make a little roll or neck of wool, and with the forceps stuff the neck to the right size; and having well painted the skin of the back and every other part, shape a piece of wool as nearly as you can to the size of the body and insert it, stuffing the corners and the those parts where the wings and legs join the body, and when this is all nicely adjusted sew up the body with a fine needle and thread, being very gentle when drawing the thread tight. ”

“ Now cross the bird's legs, tie them into position, press the wings into the body the proper position, and fasten a band of paper round the bird just across the breast, or you can place it in a larger band which will cover it entirely, and so keep the feathers clean. This is what bird stuffers call a skin, and is now ready to send to the mounters. Any lady in the bush can learn with a little practice to do all I have here described, and can get her own collection of birds mounted. ”

“ Now take the knife again and skin away from the tail and back which is comparatively easy. Just at the tail you may have a little difficulty, but care and patience is all that is necessary. When the tail is freed from the body, take hold of the latter in the right hand, and, as it were, pull (very gently) it through or from the skin, pushing with the fingers to make the skin recede towards the head and wings. Work with the fingers,and occasionally the knife, towards the wings, till you reach the place where they have been disjointed, and then cut that with the scissors, as you did the legs ”

“ Those farmers and selectors who keep but a small flock of sheep are often in a difficulty as to how to cleanse their wool so as to keep it till they have sufficient to make a bale, worth sending away. ”

“ If a male, there will be two little oval-shaped bodies of a dull white or light yellow colour, one on each side of the backbone and at the upper end of the kidneys. If a female, these two little organs will not be there, but a little lower down there will be a string or bundle of eggs, very, very small in some seasons, but well developed in the breeding seasons. ”

“ Once this is done you must proceed to skin the wings, or rather clean them. This is a delicate matter, and it is almost impossible to describe it in writing, there are so many little bones and pieces of flesh to be cleared away, and each one must be done, the bone cleaned and anointed as well as the skin. The leg must be done next, and this is more simple. Very gently turn down the skin and free the bones from all muscles, flesh, &c., paint them and wrap a very tiny portion of stuffing round them and turn up the skin again. ”

“ Get off all, or as much as possible, of the flesh and fat, then make a solution of alum, salt and water—four parts of salt to one of alum, as much as the water will contain. Dissolve the alum and salt in hot water, and when cold immerse the skins, and in about 48 hours the skins will be cured. Wash in a weak solution of washing soda and water to cleanse from any particles of fat. Sheep or goat skins will require to be left longer in the solution. ”

“ For very long wools, soft soap and hot water is used, and sometimes soda ash is mixed with the stale urine. A "dolly" used with the washing machine to wash clothes is a very good thing to beat the wool.
BIRD SKINNING AND STUFFING.
THIS is a favourite amusement of many ladies in the bush, some even having their own guns and special shot for for shooting the specimens they wish to secure. A beginner will do well to experiment first on something big—say, a common fowl—so as to learn to skin first,and having gained a little knowledge, she can try her hand on a small bird. ”

“ When it has boiled an hour take out as much of the bark as you conveniently can and put in fresh, fill up with cold water again and let it boil, repeat this until the tan is strong enough. Before putting in the skins be sure all fat and flesh is scraped off. ”