Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-09-21
TAXIDERMY.


How Animals Are Obtained and
Preservative Processes.
In LIS studio, surrounded Iy speci
NJ ms ol his hardiwofk that almost
seemed to breathe, a reporter of the
Wl hin tton star found wei known
taxi lermist and naturalist. The walls
were hung with m uatcl specimens OF
tropical aad gam bir Is, whose brilliant
p image shonc with daz1Iing brightness
As the sunshine touched them. The
floor wts strewn with { untlcss varieties
Of hawks, euIls. eagles, all mounted in
realistic atttul les, some poised on
points Of a rock roaiy to swoop down
upon an innocent flock Of chickens,
others with their prey already half con-
sumcd whic two fish. hawks near
ly were fighting for the possession
of large ti.h. A snow-owl, from Alas
so, looked placlly down upon the
Gene from a large pedestal, " hiIo on a
log at the base a black bear cub stool
holding cut card receiver in know
ing way. In one corner oil the ON a
largo showcase was filled with innumer-
able skins Of the gaudy tropical birds,
among which was conspicuous the plum
ago Of tho rare king hummer, with his
fiery, topaz colorcd throlt, considered
the most beautiful Of tho humming bird
tribe. Here, also, wero tho famous
Tyre birls paradise birds, trosons, pit
tabs and golden phoasants.
There is large collection OF mammal
skins designed for rugs. Among these
Is tho skin OF tho giant lIimalayan tiger,
twelve feet nine inches in length hair
au inch and a half long, AMI beautifully
marked. The famous "freo tiger il
also hererepresentcd by his skin. Prob
ally this is tho only specimen of tho
kind in th1 United Stltog. Its soft,
long fur, with silver tips, is not rivallod
by any Of the cat tribe. Leopard skins,
with their beautiful spots, j.guar skins
from South America, ocelot skins from
Texas, panthcr3 and bear skins of every
variety; in fict, skins of ovory animal
OF note or value are found hero.
How do the collectors preserve the
skins in such good condition2' asked
the reporter.
must De SKIM Sn thS spot. 1ho aiffis
step Is to take Important measurements.
then the animal is turned over on its
back aud tho skinuing process com
monced. An incision is made, begin
ming at tho tip Of the lower jaw and
running down to tho base, and in some
Instances to the extreme end of the tail.
The skin is then parted right and
leit with the assistance of tho
knife aud sklanod down to the
hind legs and th} bones cut off close to
the body. Each leg is thon skinned
down to the sole of the foot. II the an
lmal 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 tho log bones. to
be utilized in mounting. All surplus
tat and flesh is then removed from the
skin by serapine, and salt and alum an
p'led Tor the purpose of preserving it.
''tsr which 1t is spread out and dried
ia very moist, hot Countries" the
a&idermlst won't on, this process is
lot Away effective and the new clsk-
'lcI.ing proc 50 is rcsorted to. A
ar 5e c'sk, partly filled with a strong
oIutloneof alum and salt, is provided
ma the skins after being removed from
he body and thoroughly cleaned, arc
nut IN and allowed to remain an ia
.'h"to length of time, requiring no
urther attention of any couse quence
1uI ready for shipment, when an ex
mlnation and a rofIIing of the bath is
os ortcd to-"
How long will skins keep in such
ath1' asked tho reporter.
! have kept skins for a period of six
ears, and mounted them at the end of
lat timo making first-cIa,s specimens.
have largo African lion," continued
&c naturalist, "a Shetland pony, a hair
al, black-tail deer aud a mum Der Of =
onkeys that have been in tie both for
ge or six year,"
"Does the bath have any effect upon :.
e skins or hair2 =
1T has no perccptiblo effect upon the
ms, and does not alter the color Of :
e hair. 1t has a ba | eff ct upon bones,
'woyer, softening them until they are . :,
most like rubber. Bones arc nearly :
ways removed before the skin is =
accd in the bath P
HIo mount an animal what is the =
mmon process2 p
"Tho most recent and approved ~ ~
'thod is the manikin method, princi- :
lIy used in the mounting of large y
-mmals and birds. 1t differs from |
old methods, in that, first perfect 4
del is made Of the entire animal
er which the skin is placed, and with hi
assistance of a small quantity Of dc
modelled and proportioned to its do
feet FORM"
DO you use this method2D ~
Yes. l mounted Stonewall Jack. ~
: horse Oh sorre'l,' that way, and u
row engaged in mounting ycry - y