Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-18
A rAxrDEnMrsr,s srrDr,

A TAXIDERMIsT's STUDIO.
Beauties Of the Animal wsrua Col.
lected from Jungle ana Field.
| HOW SPECIMENS An OBTAINED AND YRIsRRvrp-rm
PROCESSES or sKfxNrNo. rIcxLrxo AID xousrSo.-
| RARE Binds AND ANNAIs MOUNTED n ,sAlufIc
| ATTITUDRA
In his studio, surrounded b. specimens Of his
| handiwork that almost seemed to breathe a re.
porter Of TIE STAR found q well-known taxider.
mist and naturalist. The waIls were hung with
mo united specimens Of tropical and game birds
whose brilliant plumage shone with dazzlina
brightness asthe sunlight touched them The
moor was strewn with countless varieties of hawks
gulls, eagles, all mounted in realistic attitudes
| some poised on points OF q rock ready to swoop
down upon an innocent flock Of chickens others
with their prey already half consumed while two
nsh-hawks near By were fighting for the posses
sion OF . large flsh. A snow-owl from Alaska,
looked piacidiy down upon the Scene from large
cup stood holding out card receiver in q know.
Ing way. In one corner OF the room large show
tropical birds, among which was conspicuous the
plumage OF the rare King Hummer, with his nery
t0Pa1 az throat considered the most beaut
the famous Tyre birds, Paradise birds tro-
nePe for hours S iessn9 hes .,es s0u
the Paradise birds and casting covetous glances
on Inc humming birds. In q chest near BY nlled
the world were seen. number Of Indian blank
cts and relics from the Navajo tribe, are studies
II, m,, themselves while pair Of Roman OF horns
| ton.
SKINS OF RAnI ANIMALS.
There Is o large collection Of mammal skins de-
signed Tor rugs. Among these Is the skin OF the
giant Himalayan tiger, IL feet inches in length,
mr. anA hAIR IT.
marked. The famous stree tiger" is also here rep
resented oy his skin. Probably this Is the only
specimen OF the kind In the United states. Its
sot long Iur, with silver tips Is not nvaled BY any
OF the cat tribe. Leopard skins, with their beau
tilui spots, luagars skins from South America,
OF every variety; in fact skins OF every animal Of
note or value are found here.
III IS an Immensely instructive and fascinating
STAR reporters inquiry; "our 1t requires years OF
careful study to master It,"
"How do YOU obtain your skins7"
1--WE get them from collectors in al parts Of the
| world"
PRESERVING sPRcMKNa
show do the collectors preserve the skins In
such good condition." asked the reporter.
1.-THE animal II killed far from camp must be
skinned or the spot. The rst step is to take i'm
portant measurements, then the animal Is turned
over on Its back and the skinning process com
tip Of the lower Jaw and running down to the
base and In some Instances to the extreme end of
the TALL The skin il then parted right and left
with the assistance Of the knife and skinned down
TO the blind legs and the bones cut on close to
the body Each leg is then skinned down to thesole
OF the foot II 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
ana Shs
removed from the carcass and cleaned, together
with the leg bones to be utilized in mounting. All
surplus fat and flesh Is then removed from the
skin by scraping, and salt and alum applied for
the purpose OF preserving It, after which 1t Is
spread out and dried.
THE PICKLNG CASKS.
"In very moist, hot countries" the taxidermist
went on, 'this process Is not always effective and
the new cask-pickling process is resorted to- A
large cask, partly filled with a strong solution OF
alum and salt, Is provided, and the skins after
being removed from the body and thoroughly
cleaned, are put In and allowed to remain an in
definite length OF time, requiring no further atten-
ton OF any consequence until ready for shipment,
when an examination and reflling Of the bath
sHow long will skins keep in such a bath9'
asked the reporter.
~ have kept skins for period of six years, and
mounted them at the end OF that time making
lion, contin1sd the naturalist shetland d pony,
hair seal, black-ta1l deer, and a number OF
years"
or hairY"
at has no perceptible effect upon the skins and
does not alter the color OF the hail. 1t has bad
effect upon bones, however, sOftening them until
they are almost like rubber. Bones are nearly
always removed 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 large
cask, the beautiful fur OF Diana monkey and the
soft white skin Of an Angora goat was plainly dis
cernible
MOUNTING THE SPECIMENS
"To mount an animal what is the common pro
cess?n
"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 q small quantity
OF clay modelled and proportioned to its perfect
FORM"
'.Do you use this method?"
Yes / mounted StOnewall Jackson's horse
Old Sorrell,' that way, and am now engaged In
mounting 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 them?"
"a most important one; without the use OF
wires IL would be almost impossible to mount
specimens None OF the wires should show In q
thoroughly mounted specimen"
Spare the Children.
HOW THE SCHOOL PROGRAM NAY BIZ PROFITADLY
SHORTENED.
President Eliot in the Atlantic