Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-09-04
SKINS AND SKELETONS.
RECONSTRUCTION OF ANIMALS AT
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Putting the Dugons into Proper shape
How .'ie Exact Proportions Are kc-
rrodaced-i Manikin of Wood
skeletons and Eyes
Washington Star.l


full length upon platform in the center OF
he room. The mun;jac, tie baboon and
various other mammals, in a more or less
completed state. stood around, and seemed
to be watching the man who was giving
vicious thrusts with long iron poker or
ramrod through hole in the patient du-
gong's back Overhead swung big croco-
die, near him huge sturgeon was poised in
the air, as if he had stopped in an aerial
voyage to stare at the man with the poker
This was the workshop OF the taxidermlst,
in one of the buildings attached TO the Ma
tional museum
The taxdermist, Mr. William 7. Horna-
day, was engaged in fashioning the head of
the dugong One of his assistants was ram
ming the stufiing home in the body OF
the beast In another part OF the room
an assistant taxiiermist was putting the
finishing touches On little African deer.
called O harnessed deer on account Of the
peculiar markings upon its body, and in an
other corner an assistant was flaying a rat
"a South American rat-that weighed
fourteen pounds, and could get away with
whole refrigerator fun of provisions in one
foray. The dugons, the reporter was told,
would not be ready TO make its public ap
pearance probably before August When it
has been filed out and assumed the form OF
life the dugong will bs laid aside for a
month 10 dry and shrink. Then, when well
seasoned, the holes in the hide will be
patched up with papier mache and the hole
will be painted Il life-liie color. This paint
will form artificial substitute for the cpl
dermis which has been removed. The du-
gong is considered 4 rare specimen.
As some of our readers may not be fanil-
lar with tie appearance o: these creatures,
il may be of interest TO state that approach
ing q Gugong from the rear one would be
likely TO mistake it for whale 1t has
forIei tail. AMI resembles the cetacaln5 in
form. l. has two fiippers like a seal, and
the head would remind person who does
not make close scientific distinctions Of a
walrus There are two small tusks, which
do not prelude out Of the mouth. These
creatures are hunted on the Au5tralian
coast for their oil 1t is seldom, however.
that tie hide Of one is obtained perfect
enough for tbs purposes of the taxidermist.
This dugong, which is about ten feet long, is
the only one possessed in this country.
All of the various stages Of the taxider-
mist'S work were illustrated in the different
specimens about the W, rk-room. The rat
had just been received from Philadelphia.
Before its skin was removed it 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 tailor
writes down the measure Of customer who
has ordered a suit of clothes These data
are useful to the t;.xid -rmist in reproducing
the exact proportions o. the beast OF some
animals casts are taken, and afterwarl TIE
r. -. Il Ia.
a practice to secure the east of one animal
Of each class, which will make a record
useful afterwari in treating any creature Of
that class OF family.
The drawing and measurement having
been nRde, the skin is carefully removed.
Ills is then subjected TO a bath or pickle,
which removes tho grease, and still leaves it
pliable Such hfelike results as those pro-
daced by the modern taxiierInists can MT
be so easily produced from dry skins Tire
skin Icing ready, the taxidermist first gives
his attention to TIE animals legs, stu.iins
the body out loosely ;ad roughly There
was an ape in this stage. The legs We're toll
erably firm and plsturei naturally, bu. the
body was stuffed out roughly. Some of the
viscera of straw protruded from large hole
in the animals abdomen. The taxiiermi,t
in treating larger animals constructs sort
of skeleton of wood, which is called a mani
kin This frame is built cut with plaster or
clay ami the skin PLACED over that
Experiments were made some time ago to
test the practicability of making a cast Of
tie dead animal ard stretching tie skin
over the cast. The result, however were
no: satisfactory. Tie awkward stiffness Of
death was reproduced too faithfully by tho
cast. Whom tie animal has been filed out
roughly the taxidermist begins to worl,
over it carefully. filling in. tamping. dis
tributing tho stutiiny material evenly and
bringing out to Efe-!iks PERFECTION all the
peculiarities OF fern. This process is teii-
Gus and requires thorough study OF the
reculiaritie' cf the anmals
treated. In his work the taxidernist must
make study Of the movements and me-
charism Of animals.
Instantaneous photography helps him in
this particular and furni hes him with an
accurate record OF the posture or attitude OK
animals under different circumstances 10
give the appearance Of lie TO a specimen Ii
Is necessary to copy soms life-like attitu ie
II the legs were to DC made Simply like four
p SITS, silif and straight up and down, Ike
the legs OF the animal III a y Noah's ARK.
and the boiy merely stuffed out Ike |
a pillow, till it could holi no more stuilins.
tax!dermy would be a trade easily learnei, |
nu1 as lIacticeu " an. .,oin'9ay ana moi-
erh tiAiuerihis'S IL mas a''aihed the dignity |
OF a science
Separator from MT norma iay room py |
a wooden p2ruuoa Is another WORKSHOP. |
ohe c"H!d iaISs' upou peepiiis into IL, that |
the skeletons after being relieved of their !
SKINS In me taNiaerhlstS sanctuin, assem-
biei IN this room 10 e4p tneir iniigna-
tion at sncn treatni mt SAuiis, complete |
saeIet9h', rlb'. Verpeoris. ana bones OF all |
KIDD, are scattered ABOUT tAe room From |
TIE EnperS overhead are suspended long |
rows oil skeletons. represeltlhs every corner
and CROSSROADS OF creation. Among the |