The following is a method of relaxing birds' and squirrels' skins. Half fill an earthen vessel with sand that is damp but not actually wet. Wrap each skin in a clean rag and place It on the damp sand; then cover with more damp sand, cover the whole with a damp cloth, and place in a shady place. In the course of, say, two or three days remove the top sand and examine the skins. If the feet and wings can be spread out by gently working them, they are ready for stuffing. If a number of skins are to be relaxed it might be advisable to procure a special relaxing box. Birds and squirrels are much more easily mounted fresh. Relaxed skins dry very quickly, and many have a wooden and unnatural appearance when stuffed.