PEICES EOR TAXIDEKMIC WORK. 
55 
To make even poor wages, all the work on that head from first 
to last must be done in two days, which yields to tiie taxidermist 
the very moderate sum of $3 laer day for his work. And wliat 
is the result of actually acconqalishing all the work indicated 
above in twenty hours? ■ As sure as fate it is a jaoorly stuffed 
head, which has perhaps not even one anatomical feature correct 
to life. If any one doubts this assertion I ask him to place 
beside a deer head mounted for $6, the head of a live deer, 
or one freshly cut from the dead animal. 
Let no one of my fellow workers take offense at the above, or 
consider it as intended to apply personally, for such is not the 
fact. I venture to assert that no man living can mount a deer 
head and do all the work necessary upon it within twenty hours, 
or even twenty-five, and make it look like life. It would be 
impossible for me to do it. Even in three days I cannot finish a 
head and give a long neck the exact shape and size it had on the 
living animal. To be sure, I could stuff a head as quickly as 
most taxidermists, perhaps, but a head filled hastily with loose 
filling alone, with the nose twice as large as in life, the lips twice 
as thick, the cheeks twice as full, and the neck twice as large as 
it should be, with the eyes bulging clear out beyond the orbit — a 
head so finished is only stuffed. It is not a work of art, it can- 
not add to a reputation, and it is only an additional weight upon 
the progress of the profession. The man who pays for such a 
head naturally regards it as the best the taxidermist can do, and 
he will naturally refuse to pay a higher price xintil he has seen 
tetter worh. 
The point I wish to make is this : Taxidermists should study 
such living animals as they are likely to have in hand, regardless 
of what it costs., and then prove to their patrons, by a few ])ieces 
of elegant sample work, that they can make animals look like 
life. When this is done, put up the prices. Make them high, 
so that one can afford to lavish study and labor upon a specimen, 
and bring out its points of external anatomy. There are plenty 
of men who will pay a high price for wmrk the moment they 
can be assured it shall be as nearly perfect as human skill can 
make it. Charge at least $15 or $20 for mounting a deer head ; 
sj^end three or four days upon it, and the piece will be sure to 
bring you others at the same price. Prove that for a high price 
you can turn out high-class work, and unless you wish to cut 
