Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-28
POSES OF SNAKES
HOW THE DEAD REPTILES ARE
MOUNTED TO APPEAR ALIVE.
Discovery Of Den of Copperheads-Pho-
tography-Plaster Casts and
the SHINING Process.



A new method has been devised for
mounting reptiles for exhibition The old
time taxidermists, who are said by the
new school to have turned out nothing more
than awkward earicatures of live animals
by the clumsy 'stuffing process. now ind
Their occupation practically gone In it's
place has arisen what is called animal
sculpture. whereby the skilled worker is
able 10 depict the original color of spcci-
men, its general appearance and its nat
ural 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. anatomlst and pho
tographer
In the high tower of the American Mu-
scum of Natural History. I'm the depart
ment presided over by DR. r. A. Dahlgren
Mr.. Klein has just completed the first large
group OF reptiles ever mounted IN this way.
The presentation of these creatures Illus
trating their life in their lairs of forest and
cave. together with characteristic scenery,
has been both a painstakinE and artistic
achievement. Hitherto the successful
mounting of reptiles has been difficult
ana almost impossible task. owing to the
peculiar behavior OF the skin which
stretches when soft aud shrinks when dry
causing the scales which I'm life closely
overlap each other to drop on or separate.
For exhibition purposes it has long been
the custom to obtain a cast from the dead
II initiate the original. the result being an
artificial and unlifellke production.
j. C. Ackeriy of the Field Columbian Mu-
scum, Chicago. is credited the first 10
introduce and demonstrate the new process
In this country. The first step Is the field
exhibition in search of the specimens.
The Photographer
The collector is equipped with a camera
as one of his essentials. When den OF
snakes has been found numerous photo
graphs are taken, showing the contour of
rocks and all the immediate natural sur
roundings. such IS leaves. small plants and
shrubs The spot Is visited several times
in order to get various poses of the reptiles
After this a raid is made upon the SER
penis, and by the aid of long, forked sticks.
which pin the head down. they are captured
and placed alive in tin carrying cases.
While in captivity for some weeks they
offer at close range favorable opportunities
TO observe their Characteristics and move
ments. In order to catch their attitude as
sumed when about to strike al an object
they were purposely angered and made to
poise In the actual act of springing
foe This pose was caught by pencil and
utilized in the finished group The snakes
are then chloroformed and their skins
moved and stored In a solution of sub
phuric acid. which preserves for an indefi-
rite period all the original bright colors
and the general texture of the skin.
From the field photographs and from
structed. The general arrangement and
position of the figures worked out in
detail exactly they will appear in the
permanent group. Preparation for model
ing the serpent's form in clay and making
a plaster cast to receive the skin is then
begun. A wire the length of the snake,
wrapped to about half its original size with
excelsior. is bent TO the desired position on
the rock surface to be used I'm the finished
group. Upon this are applied successive
layers of clay, which receive the same care
full trea tHeRt as would be expended by a
sculptor In fashioninrs the human face or
figure All gradatons In anatomy, the
minutest detail of proportion, shape and
contour, are worked up and vivldly brought
out.
Putting on the Skin.
When this bit of sculpture is regarded
fairly perfect the skin is temporarily tried
on, and, if necessary. the figure can be i'm
mediateIy altered at such points as i'm
provements are thought necessary, before
the skin is permanently stitched in place.
From this clay figure a plaster mold is
made, through which strong wire Is run
10 strengthen the cast. Plaster is then
poured into the mold and when set the
outer ma terial Is Clipped off whereupon a
light durable white cast is obtained. This
il an absolute fac-simile OF the snakes body,
and when dry II Is treated with shellac and
coated with paper mache one-hfth of an
inch thick. The latter fills the little pits
under the skin which form the oval shape
of the scales. The skin is then carefully
adjusted on the cast, especial care being
taken not to rub or press too hard on IT'S
surface as The scales come OFT easily, and
after" being skilfully smootEed into shape IL
is finally seWed up. The various individ-
uals large ana small. are then arranged
for exhibition amid the actual leaves dirt
and shrubs Of their former hone.