Evening star., 1922-08-27

dermist in Nelson R. Wood who pass
ed away last November: but he left
behind him, in the cases of the insti-
tuition he loved SO well, scores of
examples of taxidermy, especially of
game birds and others, which have
no equal in the world. 1t will be a
long day before this country will see
his peer in that field of endeavor.
Taxidermy is just as much of an art
as is sculpture. while the preparation
of the skeletons of backboned ami
mails is science and not a craft
as many consider il to be.
IRON the preparation of skeletons
we naturally pass to a considers-
tion of taxidermy, or the mounting of
the skins of birds and mammals-the
latter being exclusive of our own
species; while the forms below birds.
reptiles and fish are usually preserved
by other methods. At this writing
very little is being done with the
mounting of birds at the museum:
while, upon the other hand, the taxi
dermists of the institution. George
Marshall. w. l.. Brown and c. r. w.
Aschemeier, are doing some very re-
markable. not to say epochmaking.
work in mammalian taxidermy.
Mr.. Marshall of this department is
caring at this time principally for
the apes and monkeys. forms to
which he gives the appearance Of
life upon completion; while Mr.. Brown
has recently handled various species
of kangaroos in most mastery
manner, the finished work very
clearly indicating that in him We
have a taNiderpist second to none
now in the employ of this govern
ment.
Connected with the same depart
ment is recent addition, Arthur H.
Hardisty. a present engaged IN some
important preparatory work on the
skins of mammals. From his hands
they pass to those of Mr.. Brown and
Mr.. Aschemeier to be mounted for the
| exhibition case. The latter has en-
joyed some fine exploratory work in
Africa with the late Prof. Garner and
he has collected. with his own rihe,
some of the largest mammals OF that
continents the gorilla. chimpan-
zee, hippopotamus. elephant and
| others, not to mention many of the
! antelope. smaller monkeys and no
end of other animals. Such expert
ences are of the greatest value to the
scientific taxidermist. for IL he Is a
good observer-and Mr.. Aschemeier
| is all Of that-mental pictures are
| gained of the varying postures Of the
!! different species as they occur in ma
! ture, and these come to be OF the
greatest value in the workshop when
| the mounting of the specimens is un-
dertaken.
| TN their various capacities, several
L of these scientific experts have been
connected with the museum all the way
from a few years to as many as four
i teen or more. as is the case with Mr..
Brown. Mr. Mirguet has had no fewer
than twelve years. His work has been
| of great service and Importance, and 1t
was he who last year was engaged upon
the cleaning and preparation of whale
skeleton from Florida.
Few people realize what a vast
amount of work these men accomplish
along the various lines in which they
are employed. Upon the authority OF
the report of the United States National
Museum for 1921. it may be pointed out
THAT "Mr. j. w. Scollick. the osteologist.
in addition to cleaning a number Of t9r-
tie skulls and bones. prepared 17s whole
skeletons, some exceedingly delicate.
Among the lot were no less than 1t5
bird skeletons and ten skeletons Of rats.
which were mounted for the bureau Of
animal industry, Department Of Agricul-
ture. Twelve skins Of the same series
of rats were also mounted by Mr.. Mar
shall for the same bureau as an exhibit
to illustrate the result Of certain feed
ing experiments.
"The bone-cleaning work under
Mr.. Scollick's supervision resulted in
the cleaning of fifty-seven mammal
skeletons and 1870 large mammal
skulls.
mn. c. E. Mirguet's time was to q
great extent taken up with two
tasks-the preparation and cleaning
up" Of the valuable whale skeletsn
Continued on Fourth Page) .