The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-04-13

dee1-or other bird or animal. Tor
that matter. A framework is built
up of wood. wire cloth and iron rods
and on this is modelled in pap4er
mache, to the smallest detail, a com
plete reproduction Of the whole am
NAL as it stood in life. The skin IS
shaved down thin on the flesh side,
tanned, poisoned and fitted to the
model. giving a result beyond criti-
cism-if the modelling be done cor
rectly.
Preparations are now being made
to receive the skeleton OF the large
whale that came ashore at cape
Lockout last February. Messrs. Brim-
ley and Adickes vent down to the
Cape after this specimen ana succeed
ed in securing it for the Museum, 1t
being of a species entirely different
from the one now ON exhibition.
A bad odOr was noticeable IN one
corner of the room and the reporter
discovered that it came from q large
bear skull that was mascerating in
water to rot all animal matter and
grease from the bones. He was told
that another month would bring the
skull out clean but very smelly. Then
it would be treated with bleaching
agents to eodoriz and bleach the
bones. A large alligator skull was I'M
derSolng the same process Just out
+ side the WOrltroom-Where its pres
eIfea was not SO noticeable. Lead lined
tanks contained tanning liquid IN
which various skins We're being
treated.
There is usually q small m~enagerie
of live animals around the work
room. At the present time ma be
seen one rattlesnake, IA great horned
Owl. a muskrat, and a pair of pos
sums, the wild cat that was there
a few weeks aSo having been sent out
to the park to roy larger. The OBJ
ject in keeping these live creatures is
to study their habits and attitudes
and to photograph them. all for as
sistance in securing life-like results
in mounting.
In the group accessories it was
found that real grasses, ferns, MOSES.
etc, are used in the Museum in place
| Of the waN reproductions often seen
in others. These plants are treated
in solution that prevents their eve
becoming dry and brittle, yet leaves
them thoroughly preserved. After
treatment, washing and drying. they
are painted to their natural colors
again, these having been lost in the
preserving process. In many cases
the paint is sprayed on with COM
pressed air, the effect being much SUI
perior to brush work.
a large collection Of native bird
eggs, Z donation of an enthusiastic
naturalist up the State, is now being
arranged in the Museum.
In q Museum of this character and
size, there is always a great amount
Of material IL storage, apart from
that seen in the exhibition rooms.
Series >Of bird and animal skins are
kept in closely fitted drawers. for
study and comparison and for identifi-
cation purposes; wood specimens are
4 stored in the rough for use in time
OF need: grains and grasses for the
same purpose: mineral. rock and ore
specimens are kept in duplicate so far
as possible, and a large Of
material is always on hand awaiting
It's turn to be worked up into exhibit
shape. The usual visitor to "a mu-
lseum sees only the finished speci-
4 mems III the cases and but few Of the
many observing them have any con-
ception of the time, labor, skill and
trouble necessary in producing the
finished results. The U~el1-euuipped
posite carpenter, blacksmith, machin-
list, moulder, painter, artist, taxiderm-
list and all around naturalist. He
must know what the birds and ami
mails look like in life, and know how
o reproduce those effects in the
mounted specimen. 1T is q revelation
for a layman to visit a museum work
broom.
Two Killed by Dynamite.