THE OOLOGIST. 95 



A New Work on Taxidermy. 



Important to Taxidermists, Naturalists and All Persons Desiring to Learn' 

 the Art of Taxidermy. 



lu I'eply t(i the many inquires regarding the progress of my large work on 

 Taxidermy, which has been mentioned at various times by the press, I desire to 

 make the following anounuement. Before gi\'ing the plan and style of publica- 

 tion a description of the work is neeessaiy. This, however, must be very l^rief . 



The text is written ):>y Oliver Davie and the illustrations have been made by 

 Dr. Theodore Jasper. The drawings, which are at present' in the original Jndia 

 ink, were lie^un ()ver six years ago and Avere made only at times when inspira- 

 tion prompted. The number fifty full page plates with several hundred 

 ligures representing every stage in the skinning and mounting of Birds, Mam- 

 mals, Reptiles nnd Fishes, together with characteristic attitudes of various 

 groups of the animal kingdom. 



Some idea of the rainutess of the illustrations may be ol)tained by examining 

 the plate illustrating the skinning of a bird. The common Robin is taRen as an 

 example. The plate contains ten ligures, illustrating every stage of skinning 

 the bird; figure 1 showing where to make the first cut and every procedure is 

 illustrated until the bird is completly skinned in figure 10. The companion 

 plate, on the mounting, contains fourteen figures showing every procedure in 

 making the artificial body, adjusting the Avings, filling the neck skin, Aviring the 

 legs, inserting the artificial body, sewing up the specimen and mounting it on a 

 temporary stand. This is followed by another plate showing the Robin bound 

 in threads and complete. Here on the same plate are figures shoAviug hoAV to 

 obtain accurate running and stepping attitudes of birds, based upon simple anat- 

 omical principles. 



Plates Avith figuies illustrating all the A^ariations in the skinning of birds are 

 giA'en and a ncAV method of skinning and mounting birds called the "breast cut" 

 method, is illustrated in two plates of ten figures. Probably the most interest- 

 ing plate to the taxidermist, as Avell as to the beginner, Avill be the one contain- 

 ing four figures, illustrating a ncAV, simple and accurate method of mounting 

 long-necked birds. To those following taxidermy for profit or pleasure, the in- 

 ormation imparted in this plate alone will be Avorth more than the entire cost 

 of the Avork. There are three plates which thoroughly and beautifully illustrate 

 the best methods of making good bird-skins. Twelve plates figure in the finest 

 style the forms and attitudes of Grebes, Loons, Cormorants, Gulls, Terns, 

 Ducks, Geese, Swans, Herons, HaAvks, OavIs, Grouse, and the smaller perching 

 birds. Four figures in one plate illustrate explicitly the muscular anatomy of 

 HaAvks and Owls Avith an imaginary outline of feathers and the exact position of 

 legs Avith the artificial muscles in the mounted specimens. 



The same detailed correctness is folloAved in the skinning and mouting of Mam- 

 mals,the Fox squirel being taken as the example in the smaller quadrupeds, is repre- 

 sented by six figures on one plate, delineating the procedures of skinning the ani- 

 mal and modeling the head; the companion plate illustrating every stage in the 

 process of mounting. In the larger and short-haired Mammals the methods of 

 building the frame-Avork and niodeling in clay are illustrated. For this purpose 

 the Greyhound, Horse and Elephant have been selected, the draAvings being 

 made from the actual specimens in the course of preparation. These occupy 

 several plates beginning from the skeleton frame-Avork to the completed animal. 

 A plate clearly outlining the method of taking the measurements of large ani- 

 mals and other details are given, Avhile tAvo plates figure minutelj' the methods 

 of mounting Fish, Bird and Animal heads, and tAvo others furnish ideal mount- 

 ed Dog, Deer, Fox and Antelope heads. One entire plate is devoted to a group of 

 mounted Dog heads of seven ditt'erent species. Tavo others consist of mounted 

 Setter and Pointer Dogs, taken from the actual mounted specimens. The illus- 

 trations shoAving the methods of mounting and skinning Snakes, Reptiles, Tur- 

 tles and Fishes are faithfully executed. One entire plate is devoted to the skin- 

 ning and mounting of Frogs. Others represent figures showing hoAV to fill with 

 clay the tails of BeaA'ei's, Muskrats, flippers of Seals. Sea Lions, etc., etc. 



