Sept. 1885.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



137 



Practical Taxidermy. 



BY PRANK B. WEBSTEK, 



It is not the purpose of the writer ot tliese 

 papers on Practical ] Taxidermy to address lliose 

 vvlio have spent years in practicing the Art. lie 

 knows tliat there are many points upon whicli 

 he would better take the place of a learner than 

 presume to teach. Perhaps also the future ex- 

 pert may in the not distant future look upon his 

 instructions with feelings not unlike his own 

 when he examined a specimen stuffed by a grand- 

 father, whose process was "Bake slowly in an 

 oven until hard — then nail to a natural piece of 

 pine firewood." 



But tliere are many — a few of whom will be- ' 

 come the experts of the future — whose aspira- 

 tions formed by gazing from time to time at the 

 specimens in the little shop of " * * * * 

 Taxidermist" only at present extend to preserv- 

 ing for their cabinets the birds tliey meet with in 

 their rambles in the fields and woods. To this 

 class especially these pages are addressed, in the 

 hope that the experience gained by eighteen 

 years of practical taxidermal work may not be 

 without its lessons, and may help to smooth over 

 tlie difficulties which are met with by the inex- 

 perienced in this as in other pursuits. 



A question frequently asked me is, how many 

 liirds did you stuff before you felt sure of saving 

 your specimen? I reply, perhaps about fifty, 

 and I felt at ease after the first hundred. If you 

 ask me when I got so that I could do them per- 

 fectly, I must be excused. Each attempt must be 

 made with the intention and purpose of exceed- 

 ing the previous one. If you are a close observer 

 you will see improvements that you could have 

 made, and by endeavoring to make them you 

 will eventually reach a goal sufficiently near 

 perfection to be practical. 



CHAPTER I. COLLECTING. 



It is by no means an unimportant part of the 

 profession to be a good collector. Care in select- 

 ing, .shooting and keeping till ready to prepare, is 

 half of the work. It takes me far longer to col- 

 lect my specimens than it does to prepare them. 

 After eighteen years collecting, I have finally 

 settled down to the following outfit: A 13 gauge 

 breech-loader, English make, weight Vy lbs., 

 which cost me thirty-five dollars ; a small muzzle 

 loader, weight four pounds ; common size basket 

 with cover; very light rubber boots with hip 

 jiieces; light rubber coat and an under coat with 

 plenty of pockets, and first-class field or opera 

 glasses. 



The breech loader is my favorite — gauge and 

 weight — in my opinion it is the most practical 

 gun for collecting; with it you can shoot far and 

 near — large and small. There is but one objec- 

 tion, in collecting out of season or where the 

 protective law is enforced — it is too conspicuous. 

 While I deprecate wanton destruction of birds, 

 I do not believe that a true naturalist should be 

 interfered with while collecting specimens for 

 preservation, any more than that a law should 

 be passed prohibiting the sale of pork, on tlie 

 ground of cruelty to anim.ds. 



One way to overcome the difh -ulty (I am sup- 

 po.sed to be a dreadfully deteriuined poacher) is 

 to wrap the gun (in parts) in heavy i)aper and 

 carry it this way until well on the grounds, 

 doing the same in returning. This at least keeps 

 stay-at-home-Tommy from howling on the corner 

 of tlie Main street. What did you shoot? and 

 similar anoyances. 



An important rule is to avoid annoyinr/ any one 

 by shooting in their doorway, tramping down 

 cultivated land, and crossing grass lots just 

 ready to mow. If a person "goes for you" be 

 gentlemanly until all means to pacify him are 

 exhausted — if possible avoid dispute, remember- 

 ing that you wish to avoid a first prosecution. 

 Never give up a sliot specimen, as it is the proof 

 against you. If you are determined, the average 

 man will stop just short of carrying out his 

 threats, and at the last moment, by keeping cool 

 with a little tact, you can often bring him around, 

 and as in my own case ending by his saying that 

 " he don't know as he really cares, if tlie birds are 

 to be stuffed." 



My small gun is a help in such cases, when the 

 neigliborhood has been aroused and it is necessa- 

 ry to keep the gun concealed. This I carry in 

 parts, the same as the other, and as soon as I 

 shoot, if necessary, I take it to pieces— it is but 

 the work of a few seconds — almost before the 

 echo of the report dies away. I prefer paper for 

 my cover as it is the best screen. With these 

 precautions I ask for no permit, but take my 

 chances. 



The basket I find to be very handy, and it is 

 easy to carry. I object to a fish basket on the 

 grounds of publicity — and prefer a good big deep 

 pocket to both. Many persons cannot go with 

 wet feet with impunity — and at least it is very un- 

 comfortable. It is impossible to collect on marsh- 

 es or in swamps without encountering more or 

 less water. Many times your bird drops just 

 across the little brook that must either be waded 

 or a long walk has to be taken. For these rea- 

 sons I very often wear the rubber boots and 



