THE GREAT ANTEATER 199 



which the skin only is retained was employed many 

 years ago by the late Charles Waterton, and warmly 

 championed by the Rev. J. G. Wood. 



Waterton's method consisted essentially of an 

 absolute reliance on the pliability and elasticity of 

 the half-dry skin. The mammal or bird was flayed 

 and the skin treated with an alcoholic solution of 

 corrosive sublimate. The skin was then filled with 

 bran, and as it slowly dried was carefully manipulated 

 by a pair of modelling rods. One of these was 

 applied to the outside of the skin, the other to the 

 inside through a hole left for the purpose. In this 

 way the outlines of muscles and tendons were care- 

 fully reproduced; the skin when dry retained these, 

 and the bran being shaken out there remained an 

 exact facsimile of the living animal, remarkable for 

 its strength and lightness, being hollow to the very 

 toes. Any portion that might have been incorrectly 

 modelled could be remade after softening with a jet 

 of steam; thus the skin possessed considerable 

 advantages over the rigidly-supported specimen of 

 the "old" methods. Unfortunately the great length 

 of time required for modelling^ and the great skill 

 which it exacted from the taxidermist militated 

 greatly against the universal adoption of this 

 method. Most of Waterton's specimens went on his 

 death to Ushaw College. The National Collection 



1 A starling would take a fortnight to mount by Waterton's 

 method. 



