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HOME TAXIDERMY FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT
A Guide for those who wish to prepare
and mount animals, birds, fish,
reptiles, etc., for home, den,
or office decoration
by
ALBERT B. FARNHAM, Taxidermist
[Illustration: "WHOO" SAID WISE OLD OWL.]
Published by
A. R. Harding, Publisher
Columbus, Ohio
Copyright, 1944
By A. R. Harding Pub. Co.
[Illustration: ALBERT B. FARNHAM, Author]
CONTENTS
CHAPTER. PAGE.
INTRODUCTORY 13
I. HISTORY OF THE ART 17
II. OUTFIT--TOOLS AND MATERIALS 21
III. PRESERVATIVE PREPARATIONS, FORMULA, ETC. 38
IV. PANELS, SHIELDS AND NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL MOUNTS 48
V. FIELD WORK, COLLECTING 59
VI. SKINNING AND PRESERVING SKINS 64
VII. MAKING SCIENTIFIC SKINS 77
VIII. PREPARING DRY AND WET SKINS FOR MOUNTING 84
IX. MOUNTING SMALL AND MEDIUM BIRDS 87
X. MOUNTING LARGE BIRDS 98
XI. TANNING, CLEANING, AND POISONING SKINS 102
XII. MAKING ANIMAL FUR RUGS 110
XIII. FUR ROBES AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 123
XIV. MOUNTING ENTIRE SMALL ANIMALS 131
XV. MOUNTING LARGE ANIMALS 141
XVI. MOUNTING HEADS OF SMALL ANIMALS, BIRDS AND FISH 151
XVII. MOUNTING HEADS OF LARGE GAME 155
XVIII. MOUNTING HORNS AND ANTLERS 165
XIX. MOUNTING FEET AND HOOFS 173
XX. MOUNTING FISH 178
XXI. MOUNTING FISH--BAUMGARTEL METHOD 185
XXII. MOUNTING REPTILES, FROGS AND TOADS 203
XXIII. SKULLS AND SKELETONS 206
XXIV. SPORTSMEN'S TROPHIES 211
XXV. ODDS AND ENDS, TAXIDERMY NOVELTIES 216
XXVI. GROUPS AND GROUPING 221
XXVII. ANIMAL ANATOMY 224
XXVIII. CASTING AND MODELLING 227
XXIX. MARKET TROPHY HUNTING 233
XXX. COLLECTING AND MOUNTING FOR SALE 238
XXXI. PRICES FOR WORK 241
List of Illustrations
Page.
"Whoo? Said Wise Old Owl" Frontispiece
A Specimen of the Early Day 18
Work Table, Supplies, Tools, Etc. 22
Home Made Tools 24
Taxidermists Tools 27
Taxidermists Tools--Scalpels, Scissors, Stuffers 28
Egg Drill and Other Tools 29
Glass Eyes for Animals, Birds, Fish 31
Sizes of Glass Eyes 33
Sizes of Glass Eyes (Style 1) 34
Shields--Various Kinds and Sizes 49
Shields, Foot and Hall Rack 50
Gun Rack, Fish and Game Panels, Hall Rack 51
Some Shields and Panels 52
Home Made Shield 54
Small Bird 55
Marbles Shot Gun and Rifle Combined 60
The "Stop Thief" or Choke Trap 61
Outline of Muskrat 65
Skinning Small Animal for Mounting 66
Skinning Large Animal for Mounting 69
Skinning Bird--Breast Cut 70
Hooded Merganser 71
Opening Cut on Bird 73
Scientific Skins, Small Animals and Birds 80
Foot Skinned Out 86
Clinching Leg Wires in Artificial Bird Body 88
Wire Loop for Bird Body 89
Wiring Leg of Bird 90
Bird Wired 92
Bird Wound With Thread 95
Pose or Position of Certain Birds 96
Natural Standing Position of Small Bird 97
Fluttering Position of Small Birds 97
A Bird of Prey--Limb Position 98
Spreading Tail of Large Birds 99
Eagle--Wings Braced up to Dry 100
Fleshing Knife 102
Bench Beam 103
Adjustable Beam 103
Paper Head Forms--Fox 111
Paper Head Form--Dog Closed Mouth 112
Foundation for Tow and Excelsior 113
Sewing up Bullet Hole 114
Pinked Lining, Briar Stitched 118
Sewing Trimming on Rug 118
Coyote Rug, Open Mouth 121
Coon Skin Marked to Cut for Robe 125
Strong Hide (Cattle) Laprobe 126
Eight Skin Coyote Laprobe 127
Patagonian Robe of Guanaco Skins 129
Muskrat Legs Wrapped Ready to Clay 132
Wiring for Small Animals 133
Opossum Mounted in Walking Position 137
Cat Sitting and Watching 139
Frame for Bear Manikin 143
Bolting Leg Rods to Stand 145
Fastening Rods to Back Board 149
Wild Cat Head Mounted on Shield 151
Fox Head on Neck Standard 152
Leopard Head, Artificial 153
Hawk Head 153
Sheep Head 155
Skinning Horned Heads 156
Horned Heads--Antelope, Deer 157
Deer Skull on Standard 158
Neck Board 159
Paper Head and Ear Forms 161
Finished Head--Author's Work 162
Elk and Deer Head Paper Forms 163
Bolting Shed Antlers to Block 168
Shed Elk Antlers to be Mounted 169
A Good Shield Pattern 171
Deer Antlers, Elk Feet, Bison Horns 172
Wooden Crook for Deer Foot 173
Skinned Deer Foot 174
Deer Foot Ink Well 174
Deer Foot Thermometer 175
Deer Foot Hat Rack 176
Moose Foot Jewel Case 177
Plaster Mould of Fish--Upper Half 179
Medallion Fish 182
Grayling--Results of First Fish Mounting 188
Eye of Lake Trout 191
Fish in Mould 191
Fish in Mould--End View 192
Fish in Mould--Side View 192
Fish--Incisions to be Made 193
Fish--Inside Board 196
Fish--Sewing up the Skin 198
Home Made Panel for Fish 201
Fish Head Mounted--Side View 201
Fish Head Mounted--Front View 202
Wiring System for Frog 204
Skulls--Wolf, Lynx, Otter, Mink 207
Flying Duck 212
Timber Wolf Rug, Full Head 213
Deer Head Hall Rack 214
Foot Muff Trimmed 218
Monkey Card Receiver 219
Squirrels--Grey, Red, Flying, Ground 222
Water Fowl Head 226
Three Piece Mould of Head 229
Making Mould for Half Head 231
Deer Foot Ink Well and Pen Rack 233
Mountain Lion or Puma Hide 234
Spring Lamb? Coon Head 236
Book Case Ornaments--Crow, Alligator, Owl 239
INTRODUCTION
This volume of the Pleasure and Profit Library is offered to the hunter,
trapper, fisher, vacationist and out of doors people in general. In the
study and practice of taxidermy for several years I have failed to find
any work written primarily for these every day nature lovers, though
they probably handle a greater number of interesting specimens of animal
life than all other classes of people.
In view of this fact the following directions and suggestions for
preserving various animal forms as objects of use and ornament have been
prepared. As a treatise for the scientist or museum preparator it is not
intended, there are many books on the art expressly for them, but we
hope it may fill a place of its own, acting as a not too dry and
technical introduction to the art preservative for those who find life
all too short for the many things which are to be done.
Thoroughness, patience, and some love for nature, are qualities highly
desirable in this art. Work prepared by one possessing these qualities
need not be ashamed and practice will bring skill and perfection of
technic.
As a handicraft in which the workman has not been displaced or made
secondary by a machine taxidermy is noticeable also, and for many
reasons is worthy of its corner in the home work-shop.
In this work also the ladies can take a very effective hand, and numbers
have done so; for there is no doubt that a woman's taste and lightness
of touch enables her in some branches of taxidermy to far exceed the
average man. Especially in the manipulation of frail skins and delicate
feathers, in bird taxidermy, is this so.
I have endeavored to give preference to short cuts and time-saving
methods where possible in the following matter, and especially hints on
saving interesting and valuable specimens temporarily until sufficient
leisure is had to do justice to their further preservation. In this
connection I have given prominence to the liquid preservative for entire
specimens and the methods for preserving skins of birds and animals in a
damp and relaxed state ready for mounting at the operator's pleasure.
I would urge the beginner especially, to mount all his specimens as far
as possible. Dry scientific skins have their value, perhaps, to the
museum or closet naturalist whose chief delight is in multiplying
species, but a well mounted skin is a pleasure to all who may see it.
Making it a rule to utilize thus all specimens which come to hand would
also deter much thoughtless killing in the ranks of the country's
already depleted wild life.
Make this a rule and you will avoid friction and show yourself truly a
conservationist with the best. In a number of states there are legal
restrictions in the way of a license tax imposed on the professional
taxidermist. Detailed information of these are found in Game, Fur and
Fish Laws of the various states and Canadian provinces. Fur and game
animals and birds killed legally during open season may be preserved by
the taker for private possession without hindrance anywhere, I think.
More explicit details may be had on application to your state fish and
game commissioner or warden.
[Signature: Albert B. Farnham.]
Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit
CHAPTER I.
HISTORY.
It is very evident that this art--Taxidermy, preservation or care of
skins--had its origin far back before the dawn of written history. There
existed then as now the desire to preserve the trophy of the hunter's
prowess and skill and the unusual in natural objects.
As far back as five centuries B. C. in the record of the African
explorations of Hanno the Carthaginian, an account is given of the
discovery of what was evidently the gorilla and the subsequent
preservation of their skins, which were, on the return of the voyagers,
hung in the temple of Astarte, where they remained until the taking of
Carthage in the year 146 B. C.
This, of course, was not the art as we know it now, but shows the
beginnings of what might be called the museum idea. The art of embalming
as practiced by the ancient Egyptians was, however, effective, not for
the purpose of having the specimens look natural, or for exhibition, but
to satisfy the superstition of the times, and though a preservative art,
hardly to be classed with taxidermy.
In the tombs of that period are found besides the mummies of human
beings, countless others of dogs, cats, monkeys, birds, sheep and oxen.
There have been a number of efforts made to substitute some form of
embalming for present day taxidermy but without much success, for though
the body of the specimen may be preserved from decay without removing it
from the skin, the subsequent shrinkage and distortion spoil any effect
which may have been achieved.
[Illustration: AN EARLY DAY SPECIMEN.]
The first attempt at stuffing and mounting birds was said to have been
made in Amsterdam in the beginning of the 16th century. The oldest
museum specimen in existence, as far as I know, is a rhinoceros in the
Royal Museum of Vertebrates in Florence, Italy, said to have been
originally mounted in the 16th century.
Probably on account of the necessary knowledge of preservative
chemicals, the art seems to have been in the hands of chemists and
astrologers, chiefly, during the middle ages, and stuffed animals such
as bats, crocodiles, frogs, snakes, lizards, owls, etc., figure in
literary descriptions of their abodes. Then as now also, the dining
halls of the nobles and wealthy were decorated with heads and horns
procured in the hunt.
The first publications on the art seem to have been made in France, in
which country and Germany, many still used methods and formulas
originated. Though the first volume of instruction in taxidermy was
published in the United States as late as 1865, it has been left for the
study and ingenuity of American taxidermists to accomplish what is
probably work of as high a standard as any in the world.
The Ward establishment at Rochester has turned out many well trained
taxidermists, the large museums of the United States are filled with
some of the best work of the kind in existence, besides many persons who
have engaged in it for commercial purposes or to gratify private tastes.
Many of these have made public their methods and modes in various
publications. Among these are the works of Batty, Hornaday, Shofeldt,
Davie, Rowley, Maynard, Reed and others, all of which are invaluable
books of reference for the home taxidermist.
It is to be regretted that the once flourishing Society of American
Taxidermists has not been perpetuated, numbering, as it did, among its
membership the best artists in their line in this country.
There is no royal road to success in this, more than any other of the
arts and sciences, though I believe the ambitious beginner will find the
way smoother; better materials are to be had, more helpful publications
to be consulted and the lessening supply of wild life tends to make a
more appreciative public than ever before.