The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-25
Fine Specimen of Both Being
Prepared For Museum.
Many Evidences That at One Time
They Were Plentiful
DIRECTIONS FOR MOUNTING A BUFFALO
An Animal Carefully Prepared Should Look as
Bright and Fresh For Hundred Years
as When Finished,

To the Editor: The knowledge that
such magnificent game as the Amerl-
can Buffalo Olson bison) and the Am
erican Elk (Cervus canadensis) were
once inhabitants of this State does not
seem to be very wide spread, so few
words regarding them may be found
interesting.
In 1929, Col VIM. Bird, in charge of
a party of surveyors working on the
line between North Carolina and Vir-
and states, furthermore, that several
others were seen. The locality was on
the northern boundary of Granville
county, about midway between
Vance and Person. and it was near
the same place that Colonel Birds par
" killed another one in 1888. The
numerous Buffalo Creeks" in the
State tend to the belief that the ami
NAL was not uncommon but there
seem to be left but few actual re-
cords of its occurrence. At least as
late as 1850 the Buffalo appear to have
been in the habit of crossing the Ca
tawba river. near Statesville. at a
place called Buffalo Ford, but later
than that there seems TO be lack OF
evidence of their occurrence within
the State Any reliable later records
would be welcomed by the writer.
The enormous herds that up to less
than thirty years ago roamed the
great plains of the Western States
seem to have aggregated totals never
reached in the history OF the world
byoany other large wild animal. As
late as 1870 authorities estimated
their numbers by millions; earlier in
the century the number of millions of
living Buffalo must have been consid-
erably more than at that date and
the complete determination OF these
countless numbers, so that today
wild Buffalo is almost as rare as
Giascutus. is one of the wonders
not to use stronger wOrd-of the
ruthlessness of the march of civiliza-
ton. ANY idea as to the comparative
abundance in North Carolina of this,
the largest and most imposing of our
wild animals. is now impossible to
obtain, but it is indeed fortunate that,
before the species becomes finally eX-
tinct and is only known from mount
ted specimens, the North Carolina
State Museum should have secured the
skin and bones of a magnificent bull
recently arrived. This great Buffalo
is one of the largest in the country.
rivalling. if not exceeding in size, the
big bull in the National Museum. and
it will undoubtedly prove one of the
Museums most interesting and valua-
BILE specimens when mounted and
placed on exhibition. Six feet high
at the shoulders, with length, eX-
elusive of tail, of about ten feet and
weighing when alive somewhere be-
tween sixteen hundred and two thou
sand pounds, are figures belonging
TO a big animal and when the head
and whole forequarters are in addi-
ton covered with growth of long
shaggy hair. the result is a beast of
wonderfully imposing presence. His
fore hoofs are six inches long and
five and d half wide, horns short
twenty inches,) but very massive,
each one measuring over twelve inches
in circumference at the base. Head
very broad and heavy. eye dark and
deep in socket, muzzle. hoofs and
horns black. A big, perfect, typical
bull Buffalo, of extreme size and in
the full prime of his estimated ten
wears of growth and strength.
A word as to the mounting of such
an animal Instead of being stuff
ed" which is a method utterly mad
missable in mounting an animal of
any size, the following is the one eD-
ployed: With the actual skull of the
specimen. the cleaned leg bones and,
if possible, the pelvis, manikn or
model of the skinned animal is built
up piece by piece on strong wooden
frame. the supporting agents being
heavy iron rods running through cen
ter of hoofs and up leg bones
to the main body board I'd which they
are firmly bolted. Complete meas
urements of the animal in the flesh or
at least measurements of another an
imal of the same kind, are necessary
and almost as necessary are all the
good drawings and photographs of
the species under consideration that
can be secured. Whatever method of
manikin building is employed it is
necessary to stop short of the full
size of the finished animal so that
room is left all over the body and
limbs for the final coating of the
plastic substance in which the con-
tours and lines of the specimens eX-
ternal muscular anatomy have to be
modelled.
The model now being complete and
perfect, mechanically, anatomically
and artistically-the skin, previously
worked over and feshed down on a
curriers' beam, is thoroughly poison
ed and fitted on. Seams are sewn up,
the skin is fastened down in all de-
pressions and the facial expression is
finally produced by careful model
ing of all muscles of the cheeks, eye
lids nose, lips, etc, in fine, soft papier
mache.
Several months of slow drying pre-
pare the specimen for its final dress
ing down. cleaning and external pois-
oning and last of all, the faded colors
of such soft parts as lips, nose-pad.
eyelids, etc. are carefully reproduced
in oil, the shiney, wet looking appear
ance of the mucous surfaces being Civ
en- where necessary
And an animal carefully prepared
by these modern methods in taxider-
my should, if halfway cared for, look
as bright and fresh and remain in as
perfect condition a century hence as
when first finished.