THE OOLOGIST. 



225 



In 1883 I had the pleasure of skinning 

 two African Elephants of small size. 

 They had died in a menagerie whicii 

 was wintering near Columbus. From 

 these the first sketches and drawings 

 were made for my work by Dr. Jasper, 

 for the building of the frame-work for 

 large quadrupeds. Drawings were 

 shortly after made from actual speci- 

 mens (^f horses and dogs in course of 

 preparation. Dog heads, according to 

 my note book, then received our atten- 

 tion until uo less than nine completed 

 jobs (among them common curs) were 

 finished for our purpose. This was the 

 case with the birds, and in every in- 

 stance extensive notes were taken dur- 

 ing the course of preparation. 



The skinning and mounting of snakes 

 •and turtles is, I think, interesting, and 

 ■as clearly laid off as in the case of birds 

 and mammals. 



On the mounting of long-necked 

 birds an original method is given, and I 

 feel sure the illustrations showing the 

 method will be a revelation to many. 



We think we have laid down the best 

 plan or system which angles and lines 

 can exhibit for obtaining accurate pos- 

 itions in the legs of birds in stepping 

 and running attitudes, this being one of 

 the common faults in mounted birds in 

 active positions. 



You will remember that our first cir- 

 cular stated that the work would con- 

 tain fifty plates; we have added four 

 more practical plates, and if we can 

 think of other illustrations which will 

 make the practical portion of the art 

 more clear we shall certainly, even yet, 

 increase the number of plates. You 

 have observed that many of the original 

 illustrations which you examined are 

 not mentioned in the advertisement of 

 the work; one especially which pleases 

 me is the oological plate representing a 

 handsome nest bound in threads for 

 preservation, together with egg drill, 

 blow-pipe, embryo hook, etc., etc. 

 The chapter on this subject is, I think. 



as extensive and minute as any person 

 will desire. 



You will distinc'tly remember the 

 several plates on the mounting of the 

 horse, containing all the minute details 

 of the process, begining with illustra- 

 tions of the cutting out of the center 

 board, then with the half-round side 

 pieces, the sawing and bending of the 

 neck-piece, and the vyhole lathing of 

 the frame and the completed model in 

 clay. The same is carried out in the 

 illustrations of the Greyhound. 



The text is full upon the skinning 

 and dressing down of the skins, the 

 management in each case and the best 

 liquid solutions for baths is given for 

 preservation of skins and relaxing 

 before placing them on the clay model. 



The work at this date is ready for 

 press and when the prospects are good 

 for obtaining the 500 subscribers, the 

 book will surely appear within at least 

 sixty days thereafter. The present in- 

 dications are encouraging and all sub- 

 scribers will receive due notice prev- 

 ious to the appearance of the work. 



To be frank with you, I feel that I 

 have already invested so much time 

 and money in the project, that I really 

 do not expect to be compensated by 

 any remuneration from its publication. 

 All I can hope for is to see the work 

 completed in the manner which the 

 circulars have explained. I must give 

 due credit to The Oologist for its in- 

 fluence in securing a large portion of 

 the subscribers already obtained, and I 

 heartily thank you for your kind and 

 liberal assistance. 



Very truly, 



Olivek Davie . 



[By permission, we print the above 

 letter from Mr. Davie. Our reade. s 

 will find therein, answers to the many 

 queries they have deluged us with re- 

 garding Mr. D.'s great work on Taxi- 

 dermy.— Ed.] 



