The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-17
mr.. GIFT.
A African Rhinoeeros for the
Museum Of NsturaI HI.torS.

Upon The death. recently. ~ the winter
quarters OF the Barnum & Bailey show. in
Bridgeport. OF a two-horned African rhinoc-
eros. Mr.. BAILEY presented the carcass to the
American Museum Of Natural History. Tax
idermists from the museum removed the skin
OF the animal entire and brought 4; md the
animals homes to this city. where the ~.
o. mounting hem las already been begun.
Tie skeleton will he mounted separately; II
is too valuable 90 le used TO mount the skin
upon. The suitable preparation OF the bones
for mounting. including the lle-ching o: them.
takes considerable time. and II may be six
months before the skeleton OF the rhinoceros IL
finally mounted and placed on exhibition. The
mounting Of the skin will probably be
completed and the n.ounteh animal on eShi-
bition within two months. IL will be new 70
the collection. The museum has a specimen
OF the singie-horned rhinocero.. bu, none OF
this kind. THIS rhinoceros measures from
It's nose 10 the IT'D OF it, ali 10 feet 4 inches.
In preparing the skin for mouDtIng 1t is fret
spread nut up1n the aour aad sponEed with
work OF thinning the skin down i. begun. The
skin Is so thics. when ar.t removed that II II
were not thinned. down the vp.G-smls. or thin
strike through the hide: the thinning down
also niaSes the hide easier 10 handle. Tn"
inner side OF the skin Is shaved OF! with eur
r.rr's knives. particu'ar attention bsing paid at
first 10 the thicker stUts.
After q days WORK upon IL in this manner
the skin Is a"ain sa!;ed and treated with the
tan liuunr. and next day the shaving down is
resumed, la be followed again by the presery-
ing treatment. The work 10 continued In this
mRnlcr !nr "A NUMBER OF days. perhaps for n
week until the hide has been ;educed 10 the re-
quir-G thinness and has been properly cured.
The skin Is then put into tan II Iuor TO keeo IL
soft. and in condition for mountinc: II c1ulo
be kent In tan liquor, II desired, for years.
In mounting the skin. II the skeleton OF the
animal i not used. "A skeleton OF wooden bones
Is constructed. In the case OF NJ animal such
as the rhinOceros. iron rods perhAps an inch
thick are set M to serve as legs and to support
the body, These legs are covered with wooden
ones carved in the form OF those Of the animal
10 I've mounted. The rods support q centre
board. u which wooden ribs are alta he'd, and
So on or ldually there Is built mp a wooden skel-
eton, or SUBSTANTIALLY n rough wooden rhinoc.
eros, with the essential proportions OF the
original. iron the Stats and various parts OF
be required. The muscles are worked on
otherwise In producing form. The form OF the
animal thus built up is then coated with mod
cling clay; and while tie clay is still soft. so
that IT may be manipulated, the ski IS drawn
over II and seyed on. and such final modelling
is then done az may he necessary TO bring the
animal into perfect shape.
In tanning the skin Becomes lighter colored.
When the mounted animal has dried out the
skin Is restored with coloring materials 10 its
natural color. The animal Is then placed
upon n mahogany pedestal, to which the do
nos name Is attached, and is then ready TO be
placed I'm the museum.