The American Museum Journal 
Vou. VII 
No. 3 
MARCH, 1907 
THE AFRICAN LION ‘“‘ HANNIBAL.” 
O much favorable comment has come to the Museum 
regarding the illustration of the mounted lion that was 
issued with the announcement of the spring courses 
of lectures that we think that our Members will be 
interested in knowing how the specimen was acquired 
and how it was prepared and mounted. 
On October 17, 1902, Miss Carnegie, daughter of Andrew Carnegie, 
presented to the New York Zodlogical Park an excellent example of 
the Barbary lion. On February 21, 1905, ‘‘ Hannibal,” as the lion was 
called, died, and the body was presented to the American Museum, 
through the courtesy of the Zodlogical Society. About a year later, 
Mr. James L. Clark, the Museum’s animal sculptor, began preparations 
for modeling the animal. The work was completed a few weeks ago, 
and the lion was seen by the public for the first time at the Exhibition 
of the New York Academy of Sciences which was held at the Museum 
from December 27, 1906, to January 14, 1907. It will soon be placed 
on permanent exhibition. 
When Mr. Clark began preparations for mounting the lion he visited 
the Zoological Park and made a study in clay from living specimens. 
This was prepared with great care, attention being paid to every detail 
of structure. After the small model had been completed, the real work 
of mounting began. ‘The general outline of the animal was obtained, 
and the basis of the life-sized model formed, exactly as a sculptor makes 
an armature for a large figure. On this foundation wet clay was piled 
until the mass corresponded in some degree to the measurements which 
had been made from Hannibal in the flesh. Modeling tools in trained 
hands then developed the surface and reproduced with precision the 
contours of muscle, cord and tendon. 
From time to time the skin was placed over the clay to insure an 
exact fit, and any imperfections in the model were corrected. When 
at last the desired form had been attained, a plaster mold was taken, 
from which a cast was made. ‘This cast was made very thin and lined 
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