METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 



?65 



will assist one in attaining the desired results, he must be possessed 

 with "a spark o' nature's fire" in order to catch the spirit of his 

 subject. 



The preparation of some one of the most common animals which 

 we have an opportunity of observing and studying in life almost daily, 

 is the proper subject for the beginner to first undertake in mammal 

 mounting. Nearly every one is familiar with the forms of squirrels, 

 rabbits, raccoons, foxes and others, and it is easy to decide whether 

 they look natural when one of them has been mounted. Almost any of 

 your friends will be kind enough to act as your critic on this point. 

 In mounting squirrels on the flat surface of a stump do not m.ake them 

 appear as though they were taking a toboggan slide or backing up. 

 Watch their equilibrium. Some very bad work is indeed done by 

 taxidermists on the common animals, the fox being one of those 

 whose form and attitude most of them fail to interpret. The 

 failure is usually in the expression not conforming to the appar- 

 ent agility of its movements. In Plates LX, LXI and LXII are 

 four attitudes of the fox, all of which are capable of being repro- 

 duced, together with the accessories. The forms and attitudes of the 

 wild-cat and the lynx in Plate LXI are characteristic of these animals, 

 and, when well executed with similar surroundings, make striking 

 studies. The same may be said of the single pieces of the otter, 

 muskrat, mink and beaver in Plate LXIII, which, to give effect, are 

 arranged with simple accessories, easy to imitate. 



One of the finest mounted pointer dogs I ever saw is one prepared 

 by Dr. Jasper, similar in attitude to the one represented in the upper 

 figure of Plate LXV. In this specimen our artist has reproduced all 

 the prominent muscles which are visible in the animal while in the 

 characteristic attitude it assumes when coming to a point. The 

 anxious expression in its face is most faithfully preserved, while the 

 hard work and excitement it has undergone has brought the slobbers 

 to its mouth. 



This dog was mounted on the dermoplastic method described and 

 recommended in the previous chapter, which is the only proper method 

 to employ in the mounting of all short-haired mammals and those of 

 large size. 



Some of the best specimens of mounted mammals to be seen in 

 this country have been prepared by Mr. William T. Hornaday, formerly 

 of Ward's Natural Science Establishment, and late chief taxidermist of 

 the National Museum. His work: is stamped with the imprint of extra- 

 ordinary genius, and through his efforts the new school of American tax- 



