New-York tribune., 1905-07-23
POSES OF SNAKES.
Hor Dead Reptiles IRE Mounted
To Appear Hire.

rev method has been devised for mounting
reptiles for exhibition. The oldtime taxider
rlsts who are said by the new school TO have
turned out nothing more than awkward carica-
tures Of live animals by the clumsy ''sJuffing''
process. now ind their occupation practically
gone In its place has arisen what is called
animal sculpture" whereby the skilled worker
Is able 10 depict the original color of specimen.
It's general appearance and its natural attitudes
assumed IN life- These are deftly brought out
by modelling In clay; and the adept at this art
must Therefore. be a sculptor. naturalist. anatO-
mist and photograph.
In the high tower Of the American Museum Of
Natural History. IN the department presided
over ny Dr. 3 A Dallgren. Mr Klein has just
completed the first large group Of reptiles ever
mounted in TINS way. The presentation of these
Creatures Illustrating their life in their lairs Of
forest and cave, together with characteristic
scenery. has been both uainstaking and artis-
ue achievement. Hitherto the successful mount
Ing OF reptiles has been "a difficult and almost
impossible task ewing to the peculiar behavior
o. The skin. which stretches when soft and
shIlnks when dry causing the scales. which in
He closely overlap each other. TO drop off or
separate
f'i eAA-lit... purposes it has long been the
custom TO obtain cast from the dead specimen.
This "as a.-e-s4rd painted up to initiate the
ofsiIla- the Fe--.r being artificial and unIife-
Ike production.
D. q AcAer-E NJ lie Field Columbian Museum,
Chicago. is credited as tie first to introduce and
oenonstrate -ra new r-Jcess in this country.
The first steT IS the field exhibition in search OF
the Specimens
The collector is equipped with a camera as
one y his essentials When a den OF
snakes has been found numerous photographs
are taken. showing the contour Of rocks and all
the Immediate natural surroundings, such as
ieaFes. small plants and shrubs. The spot is
visited several times in order To get various
poses ot the reptiles. After this a raid is made
upon -ae ser2eEts, and by the aid of long. fOrked
S11AS WHICH pin the head down, they are cap
'ufea and placed alive in tin carrying cases.
the ace9mDanylng Illustration shows, for ex
ahipir- rock cave in the Palisades. some two
niies from Nyack-on- -the-E Hudson. which shell
Defea a large colony Of copperheads. While In
N~puFity for some weeks they offered at close
rang favorable opportunities to observe then
NAlAiacteristlcs and movements Ia order u
e~'eh thctr attitude assumed when about Z
su1ke az an object they were purpOsely angereC
1o MADE TO poise IN the actual act Of springinl
Vi d Zoe This pose was caught by pencil ant
uei'zfe in the finished group. The snakes ar
Hleh chiorof0rmed and their skins removed ant
S'ofea ~ Z solution OF sulphuric acid. which pre-
serve Tor an indefinite period ali the origina
N'sifl cotoTs and the general texture Of the skin
From the field photographs and from sketche
miniature model in clay is constructed. Tn
selef4l arrangement and position of the figure
are worked out IN detail exactly as they viii ap
p'@f a. the permanent group. Preparation 10
.n"aeiiiHg the serpents form IL clay and max
ing plaster cast 10 receive the skin is the
eesaA- A wire the length OF the snake. wrappe
@"out half its original size With excelsior,
Seht % the desired position on the rock surfac