2 26 METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 



nicely preserved (see r, c, Plate LI I, and r, Plate LVI). For cutting 

 these grooves use saws and chisels. The leg irons must be tied fast 

 to the bones by winding them with copper or annealed wire. Now 

 place a nut on the upper end of each leg iron and turn it down so that 

 it will come below the iron square when it has been inserted in one of 

 the holes ; when the leg irons have been adjusted, place another on top 

 of each leg iron and screw them up firmly, as in Figs. «, b^ Plate LII. 

 The leg irons must be secured in the same manner in the pedestal!' 



Fasten the neck iron in the skull with plaster of Paris, and on the 

 center-board with staples, which should be clinched on the opposite 

 side, as seen in Plate LII. The rod for the tail support should be 

 fastened with staples on the top edge of the center-board. Tie the 

 lower jaw to the upper with wire until you can replace the muscles in 

 clav. Should vou desire to turn the head to one side, this can be 

 done by bending the neck iron. Before we proceed, let us test 

 every joint to see that it is firm and secure. Let strength be one of 

 the main objects in building every structure ; do not allow it to 

 wabble in any of its parts. In all mammals the size of a greyhound, 

 the strength should be such that it will bear the weight of an ordinary 

 sized man ; the same strength prevailed in a cougar which I recently 

 mounted, and my last horse held the weight of three men on its back 

 at once. Now is the time to try the skin on the skeleton manikin to 

 see if there are any changes necessary. In the smaller mammals 

 mounted upon this plan it is easier to build the greater bulk of the 

 muscles out with tow, as seen in Plate LIII, before we develop the super- 



1. Mounting Mammals without Bones. — In Plates LVII, LVIII, LIX and likewise in Plate LIV are figures 

 illustrating a method of mounting mammals by the dermoplastic method without the use of the iron square or 

 tow in building out the underlying muscles. No bones are used, the entire structure being built from measure- 

 ments and the skull carved in wood. One of the best mounted horses 1 ever saw was mounted upon this plan. 

 But the method requires vast experience. It will be observed that instead of using an iron rod for the neck sup- 

 port, a neck board has been cut out of lumber in the same manner in which the center-board for the body has been 

 made ; when it is desired to turn the head to one side, the neck board is sawed crosswise on one side, commonly 

 termed kerfing in carpentry, in order to make the bend, and then the neck board is fastened to the main center- 

 board with iron braces, as seen in Plate LVII, Figs. 3 and 4. In employing this method we must depend entirely 

 upon the skeleton for accuracy. Many of the French and German taxidermists adopt this method solely, preferring 

 not to make use of any of the bones whatever, bending the leg irons with absolute accuracy according to the measure- 

 ment and position of the bones, making the necessary extension in the irons, where the thigh bone joins the pelvis 

 and the femur joins the shoulder blade. They claim that it gives them " the freedotn of touch which the actual 

 bones in contact with the iron supports will not admit ." As for myself I have frequently been compelled to cut ofT 

 and throw away bones of the common mammals when I was endeavoring to produce the ideal. The effect desired 

 must be carefully considered before this is done. 



In constructing a manikin on these principles the entire frame is covered with thin strips of wood, and ai 

 far as possible down on the legs. The strips arj firmly nailed to the quarter round sections which form the shape 

 of the body. They are placed so close together that when the clay is put upon them it is forced through to the 

 under side, where it forms a "key" by which it holds. Clay mixed with strong glue water is the material employed 

 Ry exact measurements from the skeleton the leg irons are inserted in the center-board and held fast by nuts on 

 both sides, as is seen in Fig. 4, Plate LVII. 



The same method has been employed in the mounting of the greyhound. in Plate LIV, the figures bein& 

 from a specimen in course of preparation. 



