The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-10-25
A TaxidermiSt's Work.

81. Is an Immensely instructive and
fascinating occupation" said the taxi
deFmist, in reference TO the reporters
inquiry; ..but it requires years of care
fui study to master it
How do you obtain your skins?"
I'VE get them from collectors in all
parts of the world"
How do the collectors preserve the
skins in such good condition. asked
the reporter.
The animal, if killed far from camp,
must be skinned on the spot. The first
step is to take important measure
ments. then the animal is turned over
on its back and the skinning process is
commenced. An incision is made be-
ginning at the tip of the lower jaw and
running down to the base, and in some
instances to the extreme end of the
tail. The skin is then parted right
and left with the assistance of the knife
and skinned down to the hind legs and
the bones cut off close to the body.
Each leg is then skinned down to the
sole of the foot. If the animal be very
large, cross cuts are made from the
central cut on the inside of the leg and
the sole of the foot. The flesh is then
removed from the leg bones and the
front legs operated upon in the same
manner, and the skin entirely removed
from the body. The skull is then re-
moved from the carcass and cleaned,
together with the leg bones, to be util-
lied in mounting. All the surplus fat
and flesh is then removed from the
skin by scraping and salt and alum ap-
piled for the purpose Of preserving
it, after which it is spread out and
dried
''In very moist, hot countries" the
taXidermist went on to say, ''this pro-
cess is not always effective, and the
new cask picking process is resorted
to. A large cask, partly filled with a
strong solution of alum and salt, is
provided, and the skins after being re-
moved from the body and thoroughly
cleansed, are put in and allowed to
remain an indefinite length of time, re-
quiring no further attention of any
consequence until ready for shipment,
when an examination and reiilling cf
the bath is resorted to-"
How long will skins keep in such a
bath?" asked the reporter.
Il have kept skins for a period of
six years, and mounted them at the
end of that time, making first-class
specimens. l have a large African
lion,n continued the naturalist, "a
Shetland pony, half seal, blacktail
deer and Il number of monkeys that
have been in the bath for five or six
years"
Does the bath have any effect up
on the skins or hair?"
1T has no perceptible effect upon
the skins and does not alter the color
of the hair. 1t has bad effect upon
bones, however, softening them until
they are almost like rubber. Bones
are nearly always removed before the
skins are placed in the bath"
The reporter was invited to look at
the skins in pickle, and, peering
through Il small hole in large cask,
the beautiful fur of Diana monkey
and the soft white skin of an Angora
goat were plainly discernable.
'"To mount an animal, what is the
common process?"
The most recent and improved
method is the manikin method, prirci-
pally used in the mounting of large
mammals and birds. 1t differs from
the old methods, in that, first perfect
model is made of the entire animal,
over which the skin is placed, and
with the assistance of a small quantity
of clay modelled and proportioned to
its perfect form"
'.Do you use this method?"
"Yes, | mounted Stonewall Jack
sons horse, old Sorrel,' that way and
am now engaged in mounting Il beauti-
full fawn for a distinguished woman" "
''In some of the specimens [ have
seen mounted there are wires visible.
What part do wires play in the mount
ing Of them?"
"A most important one. Without
the use of wires it would be almost
impossible to mount specimens. None
of the wires should show in a thor
oughly mount ID specimen, "--Nee0
York iJ,-0,Hi.