The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-27
A rAx1pERMIsrs STUDIO.
Beauties of the Animal World Col
lected from jungle and Field.
From the Washington Star.


From the Washington Star.
In his studio, surrounded by specimens
of his handiwork that almost seemed to
breathe, a reporter found well-known tax
idermist and naturalist. The walls were
hung with mounted specimens of tropical
and game birds, whose brilliant plumage
shone with dazzling brightness as the sun
light touched them. The floor was strewn
with countless varieties of hawks, gulls,
eagles, all mounted in realistic attitudes,
some poised on points of a rock ready TO
swoop down upon an innocent flock of
chickens, others with their prey already
half consumed, while two tish-hawks
near by were fighting for the posses
sion of large fish. A snow-owl, from
Alaska, looking placidly down upon the
scene from large pedestal, while on log
at the base black bear cub stood holding
out card receiver in a knowing way. In
one corner of the room large showcase
was filed with innumerable skins of the
gaudy tropical birds, among which was
conspicuous the plumage of tho rare King
Hummer, with his fiery topaz-colored
throat, considered the most beautiful of the
humming-bird tribe. Here, also, were the
famous Tyre birds, Paradise birds, trogons,
pittahs, and golden pheasants. A woman
fond of bright millinery could linger here
for hours teasting her eyes on the Paradise
birds and casting covetous glances on the
humming birds. In chest near by, filled
with trays, hundreds of bird skins from all
parts of the world were seen. A number of
Indian blankets and relics, from the Navajo
tribe, are studies in themselves, while n
pair of Roman OK horns with span of
feet attract no little attention.
SKINS OF RARE ANIMALS.
There is large collection of mammal
skins designed for rugs. Among these is
the skin of the giant Himalayan tiger, IL
feet inches in length, hair an inch and a
half long, and beautifully marked. The
famous tree tiger" is also here represented
by his skin. Probably this is the only
specimen of the kind in the United States
Its soft, long fur, with silver tips, is not
rivaled by any of the cat tribe. Leopard
skins, with their beautiful spots, jaguar
skins from South America, ocelot skins
from Texas, panther and bear skins of
every variety; in fact, skins of every
animal of note or value are found here.
st is an immensely instructive and fas-
cinating occupation" said the taxidermist
in reference to a reporters inquiry, but it
requires years of careful study to master it. -
How do you obtain your skinsW
"We get them from collectors in all parts
of the world"
PRESERVING SPECIMENS.
"How do the collectors preserve the skins
in such good condition. asked the re-
porter.
"The animal, if killed far from camp,
must be skinned on the spot. The first step
is to take important measurements. then
the animal is turned over on It's back and
the SHINING process commenced. An Incl
sion is made beginning at the tip of the
lower jaw and running down to the base
i've inc ~ 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 t. Q
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 man
ner and the skin entirely removed from the
body. The skull is then removed from the
carcass and cleaned, together with the leg
bones to be utilized in mounting. All sur
plus fat and flesh is then removed from
the skin by scraping, and salt and alum
applied for the purpose of preserving it,
after which it is spread out and dried.
THE PICKLING CASKS.
SIN very moist, hot countries" the taxi
dermist went on, this process is not always
effective, and the new cask- picking process
Is resorted to. A large cask, partly filed
with strong solution of alum and salt, is
provided, ard the skins, after icing removed
from the body and thoroughly cleaned, are
put in and allowed to remain an indefinite
length Of time, requiring no further atten-
ton of any consequence until ready for
shipment, when an examination and re-
filling of the bath is resorted to-"
"How long will skins keep in such a
bath!" asked the reporter.
81 have kept skins for a period of six
years, and mounted them at the end of that
time, making first-class specimens. have
large African lion," continued the nat
uralist, "a Shetland pony, hair seal, a
black-tail deer, and number of monkeys
that have been in the bath for five or six
years."
Does the bath have any effect upon the
skins or hairr'
1T has no perceptible effect upon the
skins, and does not alter the color of the
hair. 1t has a bad effect upon bones, how
ever, softening them until they are almost
like rubber. Bones are nearly always re-
moved before the skin is placed in the bath"
The reporter was invited to look at the
skins in pickle. and peering through small
hole in a large cask, the beautiful fur of a
Diana monkey and the soft white skin of an
Angora goat was plainly discernible.
MOUNTING THE SPECIMENS.
ITO mount an animal what is the COM
mon processf'
1.-THE most recent and approved method
is the manikin method, principally 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 proportional to its perfect
form"
"Do you use this methodp'
eyes. ] mounted Stonewall Jacksons
horse, old Sorrell, in that way, and am
now engaged in mounting a very beautiful
fawn for distinguished woman"
"In some of the specimens | have seen
mounted there are wires visible. What
part do wires play in the mounting of
themW
"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 thoroughly mounted speci-
men,"
IS THERE ANYTHING IN I,UCKp