The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-15
A rAxtpERMlsr's WORK.
New York Graphlc,

l "lt tR Au immensely lbAtrOGttve ana fascinating oceupatlon,s said the tax idermist, In reference to the reporters inquiry "but It requires years ot careful study to master it.s
 ''Aow do you obtain your skinsps
 "We get them from collectors In all parts of the world"
 "How do the collectors preserve the skins in such good conditiony" asked the reporter.
 "The animal, if killed far from camp, must be skinned on tho spot. The firAt step is to take important measurements, then the animal is turned over on It's back and the skin- ming process ls commenced. An inois. ion Is made beginning at tho tip of tho lower jaw and running down to the base, and in some instances to the ex- trcmc end of tho tail. The skin is then parted right and lcft with tho as. sistance of the knife and skinned down to the hind legs and the bones cut oil close to tho body. Each lex is then skinned down to the sole of the foot. If tho animal be very large, cross cuts are made from the central cut on tho Inside of the leg and tho solo of the foot. The iesh is then removed from the leg bones and the front legs oper- ated upon In the same manner, and the skin entirely removed from the body. Tho skull is then removed from tho carcass and cleaned, together with the ley bones, to Do utilized In mounting. All tho surplus fat and flesh Is then removed from tho skin by scraping and sal. and alum applied for tho purpose of preserving 1t, aftcr which it Is spread out and drled.
 "ln very moist, hot countries" the tax Idermist went on to say, this pro- cess Is not always etieo, I've, and tho new cask pickiing process Is rcsoricd to. A large cask, partly filled with strong solution Of alum and salt, 10 provided. and the skins after being re- moved from the body and thoroughly cleaned, arc put in and allow cd to re. main an indefinite length of time, re- qulrinR no further attention oi any consequence until rcady for shipment, when an examination and reAlllng of tho hath Is rcsorled to-"
 How long VII! skins keep In such a baihf" asked the reporter.
 "l have keps sk!as for per!eA Of six years, and mounted them at the end Of that time, making first. class specimens. l have < large African Hon." continued the naturalist, ia Shetland pony, a half seal, q blacktail deer and A number of monkeys that have been In the bath for I've or six years."
 "Does the bath have any effect upon the skins or hAir2"
 "lt has no peroeptible effect upon tho skins and does not alter the color Of the hair. lt has had etisct upon boDcs, however, sottening them until they are almost like rubber. Bones are nearly always removed bcforu tho skin is placed In the bath"
 Tho reporter was Invited to look at the skins in pickle, and. peering through small hole in a large cask, the beautiful fur of \ Diana monkey and tho soft white skin of an Angora goat were plainly disecrnibie.
 "To mount An animal, what Is the common processf"
 "Thc most recent and improved method Is the manikin method, prin- cipaily used In the mounting oi large mammals and birds. 1t differs from the old methods, in that, first per- feet model is made of the entire ani- mal, over which the skin is placed. and with the assistance of a small quantity of clay modeiesi and propor. tloned 10 it's perfect form"
 "Do you use thIs methodi"
 "Yes, l mounted Stonewall Jack. sons horse, Old Sorrsl,' that way, and am now engaged in mounting bsau- tiful fawn for distinguished wo- man."
 "In some of the specimens l have seen mounted there are wires visible. What part do wires play in tho mounting Of thcfpf"
 "A most important one. Without the use of wires it would be almost impossible 10 mount specimens. None of the wires should show in thor oughly mounted specimen