The Washington times., 1911-08-14
G. 3. Turner, Taxidermist
At the Smithsonian, Has
Charge Of Work.
SCIENCE TAKES THE
PLACE OF SAWDUST
Museum Expert To Mount Speci-
mems In Real Life
Attitudes.


Washington on his last visit. he said
there ought to be no delay in mount
ing the skins of the animals that he
and his expedition took in Africa. A
great many persons who do not know
just what a long and difficult labor the
mounting of the skins is have thought
that Mr. Roosevelt's impatience might
have been justified.
But 1t requires only a step into the
workshop of George B. Turner, chief
taXidermist for the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition to show that taxidermy, like
other arts, is long, and that in it's prac-
tice likewise time is feeting. Mr.. Tur-
ner is regarded as a past master of
the art, and the work that he is doing
probably will make him, among. the
knowing, the most renowned taxider-
mist in the United States, with a rep
utation that will lap over the great
seas
He has been at the Smithsonian In
stitution eleven years. Previously to
accepting that place he had a similar
position with the Milwaukee Museum,
and he had been out with numerous ex-
petitions that required him to take care
OF the skins that were taken from the
birds and beasts and reptiles slaughter
ed.
More Than Stuffng.
Taxidermv long ago ceased to be
mere stufring Of bird. beast. anG reptile
skins with salt. sand or saw-dust 1t
has become a science to which art lends
helping hand. Yet ever and anon, since
there Is nothing vet perfect except some
forms nf
proves the artistic science-or the scien-
titic art-of taXidermy.
Mr.. Turner. who has charge of the
mounting of the Roosevelt skins-the
pelts of the various animals which that
mighty hunter and his scientists; his
beaters and leaders. and guides and
follow ers-to say nothing of Kermit The
snap Shot Kid. took with pitfau and
with gun, shot and spear-is one of
the men who adds aid to the craft of
taNidermY.
In the work that he is doing at the
Smithsonian Institution Mr.. Turner
enc very late invention that makes his
work little easier-iS a lock joint with
which the legs and heads of animals
made of plaster. are attached to the
hodv after all have been thrust nto the
skin TO be mounted.
1t is plaster. vCu know: that has
taken the place of the salt. sand, and
saw-dust. For each skin TO be mounted
an exact model Of the animal that once
wore it is made. and the Delt is placed
over the model.
How He Mounts Them.
1t is in the. making of this model
that art and science joins hands with
eminent grace. Each skin to be
mounted-as for example that of a
giraffe. the long bones of whose hind
legs stand gruesomely against the
wall of Mr.. Turner's workshop-is
carefully measured so that the pro-
portions and size of the owner in
real life can be asCertained as ac-
Curately as possible. Where it is
feasible a live member of the same
species or of a kindred species is
measured, so that the estimation of
proportions is made more closely.
Then a model, one-eighth size, is made
OF plaster-line. q composition.
It is from that one-eighth size mod
el that the real work of mounting Is
done. From ii a life-size model in
clav is made, and from that casts
arc made of the body and head and
legs. The plaster of Paris of which
strength by the use of wire netting.
Only the legs and head are solid, the
body being hollow, so that the COM
pleted cast is light in weight.
purpose Of having their skins mount
ed, there is practically but one cut
made-a long under slit. The only
other cuts are made about the hoOfs
TO prevent the tearing of the pelts.
For that reason ii is necessary to
make the casts OF the legs and head
separatC from that of the body.
The legs are inserted INTO the skin
hrs,t then the head, and then the skin
Is worked over the body.
Skin Sewn On.
Mr.. Turner's ingenious lcck Joint
keeps them together. 1t is so made
that by a simple turn the joints
are made not only rigid. but close
absolutely. The skin is then sewn
tightly about the completed cast. The
tail of the animal is generally made Of
fiber.
The placing of the animal upon an ap-
propriate pedestal is the next step. Mr..
Turner is an artist in that line. He
has imagination, and he let's 1t play
In the vast field of information he has
gathered in the years ne has studied
TaXidermy.
There is a group of lions that Illus
trates how exacting taxidermy has be-
come. There are two lion cubs playing
upon the ground. There are three adult
workshop today they were mere In
animate brutes. He has made a model
for their grouping that will show to the
spectator an actual scene of life A
stream has gone dry, and it is only in
rare puddles that the beasts of the field
can quench their thirst Zebras have
paved holes in which the water col
lected The lions have surprised and
put them to flight and taken possession
of the envied water. The male lion is
looking into the distance, as at the flee
ing zebras, affrightened by his fear
full roars. Another Ioness is looking
with him, and the second is tapping the
stream.
Clay model has been made, which
show that when the group is finally as
scmbled on its proper setting 1t will be
a lively picture.
The making of such groups requires
patience and time, but the work has
gone forward with remarkable expedi-
ton. The Roosevelt display is expected
TO be among the most notable in the
lOStI+ufiop