THE OOLOGIST. 95 



A New Work on Taxidermy. 



Important to Taxidermists, Naturalists and All Persons Desiring to Learn 

 the Art of Taxidermy. 



Ill n'})ly to the iiiauy inquires i-L'jvarding the progress of my large Avork on 

 Taxidermy, whicli has Ijeen mentioned at various times by the press, I desire to 

 make the following anouneement. Before giving the plan and style of publica- 

 tion a deseription of the work is neeessaiy. This, however, must b(^ very brief. 



The text is written liy (31iver Davie and the illustrations have l^een made by 

 Dr. Theodore Jasper. The drawings, which are at present in the original India 

 ink, were I)egun over six years ago aud were made only at times when inspira- 

 tion jjrompted. The number fifty full page plates with several hundred 

 figures re])resenting every stage in the skinning and mounting of Birds, Mam- 

 mals, Reptiles and Fishes, together with characteristic attitudes of various 

 groups of the animal kingdom. 



Some idea of the mbiutess of the illustrations may be obtained by examining 

 the plate illustrating the skinning of a bird. The common Robin is taken as an 

 example. The plate contains ten figures, illustrating every stage of skinning 

 the bird; figure 1 showing where to make the first cut and ever}^ procedure is 

 illustrated until th.e bird is completly .skinned in figure 10. The companion 

 plate, on the mounting, contains fcjurteen figures showing everj'^ procedure in 

 making the artificial l)ody, adjusting the wings, tilling the neck skin, wiring the 

 legs, inserting the artificial body, sewing up the specimen and mounting it on a 

 temporary stand. This is followed by another plate showing the Robin bound 

 in threads and complete. Here on the same plate are figures showing how to 

 obtain accurate running and stepping attitudes of birds, based upon simple anat- 

 omical principles. 



Plates with tiguies illustrating all the variations in the skinning of Ijirds are 

 given and a new method of skinning and mounting birds called the "l)reast cut" 

 method, is illu.strated in two plates of ten figures. Probably the most interest- 

 ing plate to the taxidermist, as well as to the beginner, will be the one contain- 

 ing four figures, illustrating a new, simple and accurate method of mounting 

 long-necked l)irds. To those following taxidermy for profit or pleasure, the in- 

 ormation imparted in this plate alone will be worrh more than the entire cost 

 of the work. There are three plates whicli thoroughly and beautifully illustrate 

 the best methods of making good bird-skins. Twelve plates figure in the finest 

 style the forms and attitudes of Greljes, Loons, Cormorants, Gulls, Terns, 

 Ducks, Geese, Swans, Herons, Hawks, Owls, Grouse, and the smaller perching 

 birds. Four figures in one plate illustrate explicitly the muscular anatomy of 

 Hawks and Owls witli an imaginary outline of feathers and the exact position of 

 legs with the artificial muscles in the mounted specimens. 



The same detailed correctness is followed in the skinning and mouting of Mam- 

 mals, the Fox squirel being taken as the example in the smaller quadrupeds, is repre- 

 sented Ijy six figures on one plate, delineating the procedures of skinning the ani- 

 mal and motleling the head; the companicm plate illustrating every stage in the 

 process of nnmnting. In the larger and short-haired Mammals the methods of 

 building the frame-work and modeling in clay are illustrated. For this purpose 

 the Greyhound, Horse and Elephant have been selected, the drawings being 

 made from the actual .specimens in the course of preparation. These occupy 

 several plates Ijeginning from the skeleton frame-work to the completed animal. 

 A plate clearly outlining the method of taking the measurements of large ani- 

 mals and other details are given, while two plates figure minutelj^ the methods 

 of mounting Fish, Bird and Animal heads, and two others furnish ideal mount- 

 ed Dog, Deer, Fox and Antelope heads. One entire plate is devoted to a group of 

 mounted Dog heads of seven different species. Two others consist of mounted 

 Setter and Pointer Dogs, taken from the actual mounted specimens. The illus- 

 trations showing the methods of mounting and skinning Snakes, Reptiles, Tur- 

 tles and Fishes are faithfully executed. One entire plate is devoted to the skin- 

 ning and mounting of Frogs. Others represent figures showing how to fill with 

 clay the tails of Beavers, Muskrats, fiippers of Seals Sea Lions, etc., etc. 



