PART IL TAXIDERMY. 



Keeping ererlaxtingly at it brings success. 



CHAPTER XII. 

 THE LABORATORY AND ITS APPOINTMENTS. 



IT would be impossible for me to dwell too strongly upon the 

 importance, nay, even the vital necessity to the taxidermist, of a 

 commodious and suitable workroom, and a good supply of proper 

 tools and materials. Anj^one setting up a store of any kind 

 meets the expenditures for fixtures and furniture as a matter of 

 course ; but the average taxidermist would consider it a killing 

 thing to invest from $100 to $200 in good tools and materials. 

 First-class tools, and a good assortment of them, are indispen- 

 sable allies in the production of the finest kind of work in the 

 shortest possible time. 



In taxidermy let us have no making of bricks without straw. 

 As well might an artist attempt to paint a grand picture witli ;i 

 sash tool as a taxidermist attempt to mount fine specimens with 

 a dull knife, an old file, and a pair of rusty pliers. 



Let us suppose we are fitting up a taxidermic laboratory in 

 which to mount all kinds of vertebrate animals, great and small. 

 To begin with, we must have a good room, if possible 15X25 

 feet, or even larger, with good light, a high ceiling, and an 

 abundant supply of water. There must be somewhere a store- 

 room for bulky materials, and a drying-room for freshly mounted 

 specimens. There must be provided somewhere, for the wet 

 mammal skins, a big, box-like tank lined with sheet lead, for 

 very large objects, and some alcohol barrels for smaller ones. 



