INTRODUCTION. 
IX 
Mounting mammals and reptiles and making 
their skins also varies as given by different indi- 
viduals, but I have given the method by which I 
have found, by experience, amateurs succeed the 
best. 
Some may consider the information given in the 
following pages, too meagre for practical purposes, 
but I have purposely avoided giving lengthy in- 
structions, considering a few well-worded sen- 
tences much better, as expressing much more 
clearly the ideas I wish to convey. In short, the 
reader has the condensed results of my extended 
experience, and if he will follow with care and pa- 
tience the instructions herein given, I am sure that 
he will obtain satisfactory results from his labor. 
I have endeavored to inculcate the idea in the 
following pages that he who wishes to be a suc- 
cessful taxidermist cannot accomplish his end 
without the utmost care ; he must exercise pa- 
tience and perseverance to the extreme ; difficulties 
will arise, but he must overcome them by severe 
application to the study of his art, and, as years 
pass by, experience will teach him much that he 
never knew before. I have been assured many 
times, by men who are now skilful workmen, that 
their first ideas of preserving specimens were 
