6 METHODS IN THE ART OE TAXIDERMY. 



Do not be backward in beginning operations on the dining or 

 kitchen table, and work there, at least, until you have been ejected, spec- 

 imens and all, by the lady of the house. Do not let a scanty supply of 

 tools stop your progress. I have seen wonderful pieces of taxidermy 

 done with a sharp penknife, some wire, tow, needle and thread, and 

 some arsenic. The qualities which go to make a good ' jack-of-all- 

 trades' are brought into requisition in taxidermic art. 



Materials. — In addition to the excelsior, tow, plaster and other ma- 

 terials already mentioned, our workshop would be very much lacking in 

 its requirements if the following were not included : i. e., spirits of tur- 

 pentine and boiled linseed oil with which to mix paints for painting the 

 discolored parts of mounted animals, benzine, hard oil finish (white, for 

 varnishing), arsenious acid, common whiting, bi-carbonate of soda, muri- 

 atic acid, shellac, white glue, arsenical soap, twine of two or three 

 sizes, cotton batting, sponges of several grades and sizes, coarse and 

 fine long-fibre hemp tow, fine flax tow, as used by upholsterers. 



Most of the tools used by the carpenter are essential adjuncts to 

 the taxidermist's outfit ; also many of those used by the blacksmith, in- 

 cluding the anvil, portable forge, and bolt clippers. 



A small supply of walnut, oak, ash, and hemlock lumber is always use- 

 ful, besides i, ^, |^, and 1 inch dressed pine boards and 2x4 pine scantling. 



Essential to our stock is an assortment of annealed wire, and, for the 

 benefit of those who are inexperienced in the matter, I give below the 

 common names of a few North American birds and mammals, and the 

 various sizes of wire which I have used in their mounting. I take for my 

 standard wire gauge the one manufactured by The Washburn & 

 IMoen Manufacturing Company, Worcester, Mass. 



No. G — American White Pelican, Brown Pelicau, Whoopiug Crane. 



No. or 7— Whistling Bwau, Olor colwmhianus fOrd.), Trumpeter Swan, Olor buccin- 

 ator (Rich.), Sandhill Crane, Orus viexicana (Mull.), Wild Turkey. 



No. 8 or 0— Flamingo, Wood This, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle. 



No. 9 or 10— Loon, American White-fronted Goose, Canada Goose, Brant, iJron^a 

 bernicla (Linn.), Great White Heron, Ardea occidentalis (And.), 

 Great Blue Heron, often erroneously called "Sandhill Crane" or 

 " Blue Crane," Roseate Spoonbill, American Egret Ardea egretta 

 (Gmel.), Turkey Vultuie. 



No. 10 or 11 — Double-crested Cormorant, American Herring Gull, Mallard, Redhead, 

 Canvas-back, American Eider, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered 

 Hawk, American Osjirey, Great Horned Owl, Snowy Owl. 



No. 11 or 12— American ^ferganser. Red-breasted Merganser, Shoveler, Wood Duck, 

 Surf Scoter, Barred Owl. 



