CHAPTEE XIX. 



MOUNTING MAMMAL HEADS AS TKOPHIES AND ORNAMENTS. 



SPORTSMEN, if you really must kill all the large mammalia from 

 off the face of the earth, do at least preserve the heads that are 

 brought low by your skill and prowess. Now that our elk, 

 moose, deer, caribou, antelope, mountain sheep, and mountain 

 goat are all disappearing so rapidly, and nearly all these spe- 

 cies are doomed to speedy extermination, head collecting has 

 become quite the fashion. There are in this country probably 

 two score of taxidermists who live by heads alone ; and many 

 hunters who once lived by buffalo robes and beaver pelts now 

 make a business of hunting for heads to sell. I know many 

 such, and their scale of prices for heads, according to size and 

 " points," shows that they have got the business " down fine." 



And why should not heads be collected and made much of, as 

 well as pelts and meat ? A naturally handsome mammal head 

 which has been skilfully mounted is a thing of beauty and a 

 joy forever. Wearied with the survey of inane and meaningless 

 pictures, stiff portraits, cheap statuettes, and tawdry fancy deco- 

 rations, the eye rests gladly and gratefully upon a fine head 011 

 a handsome shield, hanging in a good light, and blesses the 

 hand that placed it there. Such an ornament calls forth end- 

 less admiration and query, even from those who know no other 

 chase than that of the mighty dollar, and who, alas ! have never 

 found out by experience that 



" There is a pleasure in the pathless woods." 



And therefore I say, if you must go and kill things, save their 

 heads and mount them as an atonement for your deeds of blood. 

 They will give pleasure to you and your friends long after you 

 have hung up your rifle forever. I have gathered numerous 



