Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-16

sumeO the lOfnl OF lie the QugOng Will be laid
aside for month to dry and shrink. Then
when well-seasoned the holes in the hide will
be patched up with papier mache and the whole
will be painted life-ljke color. This paint will
which has been removed. The dugong is con-
sidered a rare specimen. AS some of the readers
of THE STAR may not be familiar with the APP
pearance of these creatures it may be Of interest
TO state that approaching q dugong from the
rear one would be likely to mistake it for o
whale. It has a forked tale and resembles the
cetaceans in form. It has two flippers like SEAL
and the head would remind a person who does
not make close scientific distinctions Of a wal
protrude out of the mouth. These creatures
are hunted on the Australian coast for their oil.
1t is seldom, however. that the hide Of one is
Obtained perfect enough for the purposes of the
taXidermist. This duyong, which is about ten
feet long Is the only one possessed in this coun-
try. All of
THE VARIOUS STAGES
of the taxidermist's work were illustrated in
the different specimens about the workroom.
! The rat had Just been received from Philadel-
ph1a. Before its skin was removed 1t was laid
out on large sheet of paper and an outline Of
its form was drawn from it. Its various parts
were measured and the figures were written
down on the paper, Just as q tailor writes down
suit of clothes. These data are useful to the
taxidermist In reproducing the exact proper
taken, and afterwards the taxidermist can refer
TO 1t as a model. 1t is the practice to secure q
cast OF one animal of each class, which will
make record useful afterwards in treating any
creature of that class or family. The drawing
and measurement having been made, the skin
O bath or pickle, which removes the grease and
still leaves 1t pliable. Such life-like results as
those produced by the modern taxidermists can.
skin being ready, the taxidermist first gives his
attention to the animals legs stufiing the body
out loosely and roughly. There was an ape in
postured naturally, but the body was stuffed
out roughly. Some Of the viscera Of straw
protruded from a large hole in the animals
abdomen. The taxidermist, in treating larger
animals, constructs a sort OF skeleton OF wood,
which is called a manikin. This frame is built
that. Experiments We're made some time ago
to test the practicability of making cast Of the
dead animal and stretching the skin over the
tory. The awkward stiffness Of death was re-
produced too faithfully by the cast. When the
animal has been TILED out roughly the taxider-
mist begins to work over 1t carefully, filling in,
tamping, distributing the stuffing material
evenly and bringing out to life-iike perfection
tedious and requires thorough study OF the
anatomical peculiarties of the animals treated.
In his work the taxidermist must make study
of the movements and mechanism of animals
instantaneous photography helps him in this
particular and furnishes him with an accurate
record of the posture or attitude of animals
under different circumstances To give the ap.
pcarance OF life to a specimen it is necessary to
copy some life-like attitude. If the legs were to
Dc SIMPLY IKE 1OQr DOStS, St1u anu
straight up and down, like the legs OF the ami
mails in u toy Noahs ark, and the body merely
stuffed out, like pillow, till 1t could hold no
easily learned, but as practiced by Mr.. Horna-
day and modern taxidermists it has attained
the dignity Of q science.
THE WORK FOR THE MUSEUM.
The taxidermist engaged in preparing speci-
mems for the National Museum or any scien-
tif1c collection is somewhat restricted in the
Of hiS WOrL The artistic ic cr,hC tod
tothe scientific. To mount deer in the atti-
tude OF feeding, with head down, would give
were made in keeping with the conception Of
u deer feeding, and there was q patch of grass
for 1t to stand upon. But the taxidermist pre-.
pairing the deer for the museum collection is
restricted to Il small space aud plane surface.
He must make tho deer with head erect.
Even if he put it in the attitude OF feeding,
there would be no grass for it to feed upon and
the attitude would need explanation. A long
procession of animals have trooped out Of Mr..
Museum Many of the finer specimens are
now on exhibition at the New Orleans exposi-
ton. AS specimens are received the collections
OF different species are being completed. Grad
ually, also, the old dropsical and pop-eyed
specimens which stood for years in the smith
s"nian r BUILDING are being replaced by new
art In recent years can easily be appreciated by
contrasting some of the older with the newer
specimens In the museum.
THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN TAXIDERMIsrs
efforts of Mr.. Hornaday, has done and is doing q
great deal to develop the possibilities Of taxi
denny. Formerly, 1t is said, the taxidermists
were, as general rule, jealous and exclusive
There was no interchange Of ideas among them
and consequently little. Now the members OF
the society are reaping much benefit from the
discussion of methods and the periodical exhi-
billions of work. AT the National museum now
the workroOm of the taXidermist represents one
OF the most important departments OF the insti-
tuition. In addition to the mechanical work
which Is constantly in progress this department
obtains specimens through an arrangement
made with Forepaugh, Barnun, Sells and other
menagerie proprietOrs, the managers of the
Philadelphia geological garden and Others who
aserie animal dies its body is sent to the taxi
dermist at the National museum. There are on
hand now in one of the store-houses of the
museum, material enough to keep Mr.. Hornaday
and his force busy for long time without re-
ceiving any further additions. One thing notice
able in specimens Of modern taxidermy is the
natural appearance OF the eyes. Glass eyes are
made for the various animals. in which nature
is eoun terfeited in shade, color depth and gene
by oculists for the use Of men who have oc-
G f;,s,o to supply an optical deficiency. In
found large assortment OF eyes that seem to
have leaped out Of their sockets. The fierce
siaring eye of the tiger, and the meek, veivety
eye of the timid fawn lie down together in the
mlilenhlal peace OF the taxiderru1st'S drawer.
THE PSYCHOLOGIST AT WORK.
separated from Mr.. Hornaday's room by q
wooden partition is another workshop One
could fancy, upon peeping into 1t, that the skel-
etons, after being relieved OF their skins in the
taxidermists sanctum, assembled in this room
to express their indignation at such treatment.
Skulls, complete skeletons, ribs, vertebrn and
bones of all kinds are scattered about the room
From the tinbers overhead are suspended long
rows row , OF skeletons representing every corner
coiied the sinuous skeleton Of u large python,
The bleached bones Of q little whale are laid
out ON bench on one side OF the room The
other side OF the room is taken up with the
bony remains OF huge animal, now in course
of reconstruction, and looking like the sea-worn
skeleton Of all old wreck. This is the skeleton
of the arctic sea-cOw, Stellerine or rufind II is
| second cousin OF the dugOng lying In Mr. Hor-
| nadays rQom. but its line is now extinct. The
remains are found on the islands OF Behring's
strait. The sea-cOw has been extinct for about
300 years. Some time ago the scientific conn
munity was stirred to Its very depths by q con-
trOversy over the probable structure Of
THE SEA cows TAIL.
Some insisted that it was finished or with a
forked tail like the dugong, others were equally
positive that the proper tail for the sea COW was
| u round tail like that OF the manatee. The
| breach that the sea cow made when IL CHARGED
upon the ranks Of the scientists has not yet
| been mended. Even TO this day Il Is diiiicult
| for a naturalist at the museum to mention the
| sea cows tail without betra-ing emOtion The
sea COW now being rearticulated will be sort
Of composite affair: The ribs and bones OF q
number OF these interesting creatures have
been collected. The osteologtst il engaged in
building up complete sea COW from these nag
| ments. In the midst Of these grim relics the
psychologist, Mr.. Frederic A. Lucas sits at work
dril and devising mechanical expedients TO
take the place Of the Jennings Of nature.
Mr. Lucas Will tell the visitor that nature