St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-11-14
SNAKE SCULPTURE,


m. Reptile in Poaitisa -
Plaster Cast.
The national museum VIII SEM = r. Tug
worlds fair at ST. Louis fine eAn,nts e IS Z
snake casts. So like the real tRank sis {
each az these plaster models, owlne 20
no ingenuity with which they nAYs
been nodded and painted. that, Wslst
not inclosed in q glass case, the ylslaef
might well be excused for snucas. 8
alarm on catching sight Of y, sass -
New York Sun. II .
These extraordinary works q eft 80 49,.
productions of William Palmer, g 49, !
Smith sonian institution, ana Joan -
Thompson, keeper of the reptile nou.o
at the geological gardens In Pniiaosl-
phia. A number Of them are now zDeans
made by the former In the taxiseI y
laboratory back Of the Smit Ian &C.
stitution. notably q cobra do capeiIo,
the same which died some time keo -.
the Bronx Park zoo. This c0Dra ~
though taken in death cast. Will pe
shown in characteristic hghting aLta-
tude. the hood-like neck ldistended me
the body erected in that peculiar curve
which has earned for the creature the
designation Of the most graceful q an
finals. This is the first cast ever takens8
Of a cobra da capello.
The greater part Of the casting -
done from dead snakes. That operation
is a comparatively simple one, Dus
where live poisonous snakes are em-
ployed it is different. It is sometimes
found advisable to use live snakes. -
cause the characteristic colors and
markings are very delicate ana fAde
within a few hours after death.
MANY Of Mr.. Thompson's casts were
taken from life, because, when an Or
der was placed with him from the NM
scum authorities, 1t saved trouble time
and expense to use q specimen In the
zoo as model, instead OF procuring ~
dead one Of the same species. The op-s
Grafton of making q live snake pose y
thus described by Mr.. Thompson
my first step, as is the case q ne
cook with the hare. Is to secure the
snake. Ny assistant makes slip knot
with a piece OF strong Irvine, attaches +
to a long pole and, opening the ca&es
places It over the snakes head. The
reptile, struggling and sQuirmtnEs And
wild with fear and anger, Is lifted out
and should he be one Of the deadly -
rieties there is some exciting spart ne
fore he is finally conquered. ths1
hold q sponge saturated with chiofu-
form to his nostrils. In short time 10
is. for the time being and to al intenfe
and purposes, dead to the world. NO.
the cast is then made with III pcsstbles
expedition.
.Quills are placed in the reptiles nos
trils. SO that he may breathe, ana ~
mixed plaster Of paris is pQlred ailoX1ss
him. After the plaster has 10 E6sto
harden, the snake, which has been
creased in advance to facilitAte it, -
moval. is carefully pulled ont hcm the.
cast and returned to it, cage. Usually
none the worse for the operatltn.
'sThe inside of.the cast Is noWgAushed
out with soaW water, the gr61se o.
which fills up. the pores and pftynnte
sticking. The plaster is then ponfs -
and the cast remains undtsturb f0r
"a hours in order to insure perfect a1rd.
ening. s8s
'The next step Is the chipping . ya1
Of the outer shell. which has tos
be done with extreme care lest tho
delicate outline Of the impressioned
plaster may be irretrievably ru-
ined. Particularly is this true of
the head and eyes, which are always
left till the last. When all the shell -
Clipped away an exact reproduction Ct
the snake down to the finest details has.
been secured, and ali that remains To-
be done is the painting Of the ORIGINAL
colors."
It is the painting which Is the really
crucial feature Of the operation and the
one which determines the success Or fail-s
ure of the effort. 1t is very tedious
work, and in most instances fally g.
month is spent on each specimen. 4
Where possible live snake y placed IN
a glass box beside the artist, who stud
les the colors az he works. Each scale
receives separate treatment and the head
is usually labor of several days.
stuffed Monkey with Money.
What probably II the uueerASt -