The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-09-13
TAXIDERMY.
Mounting Geological Specimens
in Realistic Attitudes
How Animals Are Obtained and
Preservative Processes.

In his studio, surrounded by speci
mems OF his handiwork that almost
seemed to breathe, reporter Of the
Washington Star found a well-known
eaxidermist and naturalist. The walls
were hung with mounted specimens OF
tropical and game birds, whose brilliant
plumage shonc with dazzling brightness
as the sunshine touched them. The
floor 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 fish-hawks near
by were fighting for the possession
of large fish. A snow-owl, from Alas
ka, looked placidly down upon the
scene from a large pedestal, while on a
log at the base black bear cub stood
holding out card receiver in a know
ing way. In one corner of the room a
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 hummiug bird
tribe. Hero also, were the famous
Tyre birls, paradise birds, trogons, pit
tabs and golden pheasants.
There is large collection of mammal
skins designed for rugs. Among these
is the 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 ths United States. Its 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 here.
.'How do tho 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 measurements,
then the animal is turned over on its
back and tho skinning process COM
menced. An incision is made, begin
ming 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 aud skinned down to the
hind legs and tho bones cut off close to
the body. Each leg is then skinned
down to the sole of the foot. II the an
imal bc very large, cross-cuts are made
from the central cut on the inside OF the
leg and the sole of tho foot. Tho flesh
is then removed from the leg bones,
and the front legs operated upon in the
same manner, and the skin entirely re-
moved from the body. Tho skull is
then removed from the carcas, and
cleaned, together with the leg bones, to
be utilized in mounting. All surplus
fat aud 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 aud dried.
'Tn very moist, hot countries" the
taxidermist went on, "this process is
not always effective, and the now cask-
picking process is resortcd to. A
large cask, partly filed with strong
solution of alum and salt, is provided,
and tho skins after being removed from
the body and thoroughly cleaned, arc
put in and allowed to remain an in :
definite length of time, requiring no
further attention of any conseq quence
until ready for shipment, when an ex-
animation and q refilliug of the bath is
resorted to-"
'.How long will skins keep in such a
bath7" asked the reporter.
Il havo kept skins for period of six
years, and mounted them at the end of
that time, making first class specimens
! have large African lion," continued
the naturalist "a Shetland pony, hair
seal, black-tail deer aud a nun Der of
monkeys that have been in tho both for
five or six years."
docs the bath have any effect upon
the skins or hair7'
'lt has no perceptible effect upon the
skins, and does not alter the color Of
the hair. 1t has bal effect upon bones,
however, softcning them until they are
almost like rubber. Bones are nearly
always removed. before tho skin is
placed in the bath"
'To mount an animal what is the
common processf'
"The most recent and approved
method is the manikin method, princi-
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 plac,d. aud with
the assistance of small quantity of
clay modelled and proportioned to its
perfect FORM"
DO you use this mcthod2'
Eyes. | mounted Stonewall Jack
sons horse Old Sorre.l,' that way, and
am row engaged in mouatiag very
be; e;utiful fawn for a distinguished
woman.
A broken doya uentlemar MAKES a