SCIENTIFIC TAXIDERMY FOR MUSEUMS. 403 



their natural haunts is in reality what is now most in demand. At 

 zoological gardens, at least here at Washington, they are usually kept 

 in wire cages, often huddled together, and rarely assume the animated 

 attitudes most natural to them, and so, even if photographs could be 

 obtained of them there, they would hardly meet the end in view. That 

 they are easily obtained in nature I have recently demonstrated in one 

 instance for illustration in the present connection, though I am confident 

 with just a little more practice in that way the results can be made all 

 that is to be desired. About a month ago on my premises I secured a 

 good-sized Garter snake, uninjured in the least degree, and at once 

 •placed him in a large glass jar. Immediately I cut out, on the bank 

 of a stream on my place, a suitable piece of ground, with plants glow- 

 ing on it, for my "-base." This 1 placed out of doors on a large box 

 about the height of my camera, and for a background behind it I 

 placed a large sheet of common white blotting paper. My snake was 

 then removed from his jar and placed on the base. By tapping him 

 on the head he at once threw himself in the position I secured him in 

 in the photograph, of which Plate xxvn is a good copy. 



Now, this operation altogether took less than an hour, and a fairly 

 good figure was the result. But it may be accomplished very easily in 

 another way; for all we have to do is to " go afield " armed with our 

 camera and a necessary number of plates, and a thin board covered 

 with white blotting paper for our background, to be used for cutting 

 off superfluous foliage, etc. On meeting with a snake, or indeed any 

 small animal, he may in 50 per cent of the cases be obtained by the 

 methods above indicated. Recently 1 have even succeeded in get- 

 ting them on the ground by placing the camera right down in front 

 of them, putting up my background, then assuming a prone position 

 myself, focused and got my figure. 



Such a photograph of the Heloderinas was obtained by me in New 

 Mexico. The specimens represented in it were my own; they were 

 healthy and vigorous, and had been disporting themselves in the sun, 

 when, becoming tired, they sought the shade of some plants, and as 

 they assumed positions of rest I there photographed them. 



All the figures of snakes given in the present report are from plaster- 

 of-Paris casts in the collections of the National Museum. They were 

 all made, I believe, by Mr. Joseph Palmer, and most naturally colored. 

 They are wonderfully tine things, and a credit to any museum in exist- 

 ence. But what is still more to the point they faithfully represent the 

 originals, and that is what we want. Not only are these snakes in 

 plaster, but so are the tasteful bases of rock, etc., upon which they have 

 been placed. Take, for example, the rattlesnake shown in cast !>50. 

 With tail elevated, and the reptile thrown into natural coils, partly 

 within the recess of the spreading roots of a large tree, Ave have an 

 accomplishment in plaster theequal of which for that particular snake 

 I do not believe to be extant. 



