Connecticut western news., 1888-09-19
TAXIDERMY.
Mounting Geological Specimens
 in Realistic Attitudes
How Animals Are Obtained and PreSerVative Processes.

mems of his handiwork that almost seemed to breathe, reporter of the Washington Star found a well-known taxidermist and naturalist. Tho walls were hung with mounted specimens of tropical and game birds, whose brilliant plumagc shone with dazzling brightness as the sunshine touched them. The !. Asor was strewn with countless varieties of hawks, gulls, eagles, all mounted in realistic attitudes, some poised on points of rock ready to swoop down upon an innocent flock of chickens, others with their prey already half con- sumed, while two fsh-hawks near by were fighting for the possession of large fish. A snow-owl, from Alas ka, looked placidly down upon the scene from large pedestal, W hile on log at the base black bear cub stood holding out card receiver in a know ing way. In one corner of the room large showcase was filled with innumer- able skins of the gaudy tropical birds, among which was conspicuous the plum age of the 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, pit tahs and golden pheasauts.
 There is large collection of mammal skins designed for rugs. Among these is tho skin of the giant Himalayan tiger, twelve feet nine inches in length, hair an inch and half long, and beautifully marked. The famous ''free tiger" is also here represented by his skin. Prob ably this is the only specimen of the kind in tn, United States. It's soft, long fur, with silver tips, is not rivalled by any of the cat tribe. Leopard skins, with their beautiful spots, jaguar skins from South America, ocelot skins from Texas, panthers' and bear skins of every variety; in fact, skins of every animal of note or value are found hore.
 ''How do tho collectors preserve the skins in such good conditiona" asked the reporter.
 "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 skinniug process com l menced. An incision is made, begin ming at tho tip of the lower jaw and running down to the base, and in some instances to the extreme end of the tail. Tho skin is then parted right and left with the assistance of tho knife and skinned down to the hind legs and tha bones cut off close to the body. Each leg is then skinned down to the sole of the foot. If the an- imal 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 tho leg bones, and the front legs operated upon in the samo manner, and the skin entirely re- moved from the body. The skull is then 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 ap- piled for the purpose of preserving it, after which 1t is spread out and dried.
 'Iu very moist, hot countries," the taxidermist went on, ''this process is not always effective, and the new c,sk- | 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 removed from the body and thoroughly cleaned, arc put in and allowed to remain an iu . definite length of time, requiring no further attention of any couse quen ce until ready for shipment, when an ex- animation and refilling of the bath is resorted to-"
 ''How long will skins keep in such a bath" asked the reporter.
 '1 have kept skins for period of six | years, and mounted them at the end of that time, making first class specimens. have a large African lion," continued the naturalist, "a Shetland pony, hair seal, black-tail deer and a number of monkeys that have been in the both for five or six ycars."
 '.Docs the bath have any effect upon the skins or hair2'
 'It has no per ceptibie effect upon the skins, and does not alter the color of the hair. It has "a bad effect upon bones, however, softening tho m until they are almost like rubber. Bones are. nearly always removed before the skin is placed in the bath.'
 ''To mount an animal what is the common process"
 "The most recent and approved method is the manikin method, priuci- pally used in the mounting of large mammals and birds. It differs from the old methods, in that, first perfec c' model is made of the entire animal, over which the skin is placed, and with the assistance of small quantity o clay modelled and proportioned to it. perfect form."
 "Do you use this methoda"
 rYes. l mounted Stonewall Jack. sons horse old Sorrell,' that way, an6 am now engaged in mounting very beautiful fawn for distinguished woman.
 A broken down gentleman makes .