The taxidermist\s manual: a complete practical guide to collecting, preparing, and preserving all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, insects, etc. Designed for both experts and amateurs

Front matter

THE

TAXIDERMIST'S MANUAL;

A COMPLETE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO

PART FIRST, Of Skinning; Preparing and Mounting the Mammalia, or

Quadrupeds.

OF SKINNING.

"TTT"HEN a quadruped is killed, and its skin intended for W stuffing, the preparatory steps are to lay the animal on its back, and plug up its nostrils, mouth, and any wounds it may have received, with cotton or tow, to prevent the blood from disfiguring the skin. A longitudinal incision is then made in the lower part of the belly, in front of the pubis, and extended from thence to the stomach, or higher if necessary, keeping in as straight a line as possible, and taking care not to penetrate so deep as to cut into the abdominal muscles. In some instances, the incision is made as* high as the collar bone. In this operation the hairs must be carefully separated to the right and left, and none of them cut, if possible. The skin is also turned back to the right and left, putting pads of cotton or tow between it and the muscles, as the skinning is proceeded with. If any fatty or oily substance should be noticed, it must be carefully wiped away. The skin being removed as far in every direction as the extent of the incision will admit of, each of the thighs must be separated at its junction with the pelvis, that is, by the head or ball of the Os femoris,* or thigh bone. The intestinal canal is then cut across, a little way above the anus, and then the tail is separated, as close to the animal as possible. After this the pelvis is pulled out of the skin, and the skin separated from the back by inserting the handle of the scalpel cutting knife between it and the carcase. It is pulled gradually upward until the operator reaches the shoulders. The whole hinder parts and trunk of the body being thus out of the skin, the next operation is to remove the fore-legs, by separating them from the body at the shoulder-joint, or the base of the Os humeri. When the joint of one shoulder has been separated from the body, the leg is again put into the skin, and the animal then turned

* Those who are unacquainted with the names of the different bones of the skeleton, will find a full detail of those of both quadrupeds and birds, in our description of fig. 1. [See pages 8 and 9.]

THE TAXIDEEMIST'S MANUAL.

in order to repeat the same with the other side, the limb of which is also returned. The skin is then removed from the neck. The next thing is to separate the skin from the head by the assistance of jthe scalpel. It is taken off as far as the point of the nose ; while great care must be taken not to injure the eyelids, and to cut the ears as close to the skull as possible ; and also to avoid cutting the lips too close.

All this having been performed, the head and trunk of the animal are completely separated from the skin. The next i operation is to remove the head of the animal from the trunk, at the upper bone of the vertebrae. The external muscles of the head and face are then carefully cut off with a scalpel, and the bones left as free from flesh as possible. The occipital bones are next enlarged by means of a strong knife, or other instrument ; and the brain all carefully removed. The fore legs are now pulled out of the skin, by drawing the legs one way and the skin another, as far as the claws of the foot. All the muscles are then cut off the bones, while care is taken not to injure the ligaments and tendons. They should be left adhering to the knee. They are then returned into the skin again. The hind legs are treated in the same manner. The tail is the last part which is skinned, and this is a more difficult task than the other parts of the body. Two or three of the

Fig. 1. — Skeleton of the Horse.

0?HR TAXTDEEMIST'S MANUAL. 9

first joints or vertebrae. are first laid bare by pulling the skin back'; they are then tied iirnily with a strong cord, which must be attached to a strong nail or hook on the wall. A cleft stick is introduced between the vertebrae and the skin, the stick is then forced to the extremity, and the tail bones come out of their enveloping skin or sheath.

The skeleton head, haying been divested of all its fleshy matter, tongue, palate, external muscle and brain is now returned to" its place in the skin, which is in a condition for commencing the operation of stuffing. ,

\A OF STUFFING QUADBUPEDS, &o.

Let us suppose the animal which we intend to stuff to be a ,cat. "Wire of such a thickness is chosen as will support the .animal by being introduced under the soles of the feet, and runnin g it through each of the four legs. A. piece of smaller dimensions is then taken, measuring about two feet, for the purpose of forming, what is termed by stuffcrs, a tail bearer; This piece of wire is bent at nearly a third of its length, into an oval of about six inches in length ; the two ends are twisted together, so as to leave one of them somewhat longer than the other ; the tail is then correctly measured, and the wire is cut to the length of it, besides the oval. The wire is then wrapped round with flax in a spiral form, which must "be increased in thickness as it approaches the oval, so as to be nearly equal to the dimensions of the largest vertebrae, or root of the tail. The thickness can be very nearly imitated from

Explanation of Fig. 1.— -A, the head; a, the Posterior Maxillary or jaw bone; b, the. Superior Maxillary, or upper jaw; c, the orbit of the eye ; d, tie nasal bones, or bones of the nose ; e. the Suture, dividing" the parietal bones below from the occipital bones above; f, the Inferior Maxillary bone, containing the upper incisors, or cutting teeth; B, the seven . Cervical Vertebrae, or bones of , the heck; 0, the eighteen Dorsal Vertebrae, or bones of the back ; D, the six Lumbar Vertebras, or bones of the loins; E the five Sacral Vertebrae, or bones of the haunch ; F, the. Caudal Vertebrae, or bones of the tail, the usual number being fifteen ; sometimes, however, they vary ; G; the Scapula, or shoulder blade ; H, the Sternum, fore part of the chest or breast-bone ; I, the Costas, or ribs, seven or eight of which articulating with the Sternum, are Called the true ribs, and the remaining ten, or eleven, which are united together by ^ cartilage, are called the false ribs ; J, the Humerus, or bone of the arm ; K, the Radius, or bone of the forearm; L, the Ulna, or elbow; with its process, the Olecranon ; M, M, the Carpus, or knee, consisting of seven bones; N, N, the Metacarpal, or shank bones. The large Metacarpal, or cannon, or shank in front; and the smaller .Metacarpal, or spleht bone behind ; g, the fore pastern and foot, consisting Of the Os Suffraginis, or the upper and longer pastern bone, with the sesamoid bones behind, articulating with the cannon and greater pastern : the Os Coronae, or lesser pastern ; the Os Pedis, or coffin bone; and the Os Naviculae, or navicular shuttle bone, not seen, and articulating with the smaller pastern and coffin bones; h, the corresponding bones of the hind feet ; O, O, the small .Metacarpal, or splent bones; P, the Pelvis, or haunch, consisting of three portions, — the Ilium, the Ischium, and the Pubis ; Q, the Os Femoris. or thigh -bone ;lR, R, ihe Patella placed on the stifle joint; S S, the Tibia and Fibula; the latter' is a small bone behind. These are also called the ham hones; T, T, the bones of the Tarsus, or hock, six in number; U, U, the Metatarsals of the hind leg, called shank, or cannon bones W, W, the Os Calcis, or point of the hock ; X, X, X, X, the Sesamoid, m fetlock

THE TAXIDERMIST S MANUAL.

measuring the bones of the tail which have just been removed and for this purpose a pair of calipers should be used. When finished it should be rubbed thinly over with flour paste, to preserve its smooth form, which must be allowed to drythoroughly, and then the surface should receive a coating of the preservative. The sheath of the tail must now be rubbed inside with the preservative. This is applied with a small quantity of lint, attached to the end of a wire, long enough to reach the point of the tail sheath. The tai1 bearer is then inserted into the sheath, and the oval part of the wire placed within the skin of the belly, and attached to the longitudinal wire, which is substituted for the vertebrae or back bone.

Four pieces of wire, about the thickness of a crow quill, are then taken, which must be the length of the legs, and another piece a foot or fifteen inches longer than the body. One end of each of these is sharpened with a file in a triangular shape, so that it may the more easily penetrate the parts. At the blunt end of the longest piece a ring is formed, large enough to admit of the point of a finger entering it ; this is done by bending the wire back on itself a turn and a half, by the assistance of the round pincers. On the same wire another ring is formed in a similar manner, consisting of one entire turn, and so situated as to reach just between the animal's shoulders. The measurement should be carefully made from the animal itself. The remaining part of this wire should be perfectly straight, and triangularly pointed at the extremity.

Another method of forming the supporting wires, as practiced by M. Nicholas, is to take a central wire, which must be the length of the head, neck, body and tail of the cat, as in fig. 2 ; that is, from a to b, ; two other pieces are then taken and twisted round the center piece in the manner represented in fig. 2, c, d, e, f; these extremities being left for f

Fig. 2. — The Wires Prepared for Insertion,

THE TAXEDEBMIST's MANUAL.

the leg wires. After the wires are thus twisted together, the central one is pulled out ; and the feet wires of one side are pushed through the legs of one side from the inside of the skin, and the other two leg pieces are bent and also forced through the legs, and afterward made straight by a pair of pincers ; the center piece, having been previously sharpened at one end with a file, is now forced through the forehead and down the neck till it enters the center, of the twisted leg wires which it formerly occupied, and pushed forward to the extremity of the tail, leaving a small piece projecting out of the forehead, as represented in the cat, fig. 3. After which the completion of the stuffing is proceeded with.

We think this mode unnecessary for the smaller animals, and that ifc should only be adopted for quadrupeds the size of deer, &c. These wires are besides much more difficult to insert by this than by the other method.

All the wires being adjusted, the operation of stuffing is next proceeded with. The skin of the cat is now extended on a table, and the end of the nose seized with the left hand,

Fig. 3. — The Wires Inserted in the Cat d&n& pushed again into the skin, till it reaches the neck, when we receive the bones of the head into the right hand. The .skull is now well rubbed over with the arsenical soap, and all the cavities which the muscles before occupied are filled with chopped tow, flax or cotton, well mixed with preserving powder. The long piece of wire is now passed into the middle of the skull, and after it is well rubbed over with the preservative, it is returned into the skin. The inner surface of the neck skin is now anointed, and stuffed with chopped flax, (taking care not to distend it too much. Nothing like pressure .should be applied, as the fresh skin is susceptible of much expansion.

Observe that it is always the inner surf ace wliich is anointed with the arsenical soap.

Take care taht the first ring of the wire, which passes into the head, is in the direction of the shoulders, and the second corresponding with the pelvis, or somewhat toward the posterior part. One of the fore-leg wires is then inserted along ; the back of the bone ; and the point passed out under the highest ball of the paw. When this is accomplished,- the bones of the leg are drawn up within the skin of the body, and the wire fastened to the bones of the arm and fore-arm with strong thread or small twine. Brass wire, used for piano-forte strings, makes it more secure, and is not liable to rot. These are well anointed, and flax or tow slivers wrapped round them, so as to supply the place of the muscles which have been removed. The common stuffing employed by the French taxidermists, at the Jardin des Plantes, is chopped flax; but it must be quite evident that for such parts as the legs oi animals or birds, that flax or tow slivers are far preferable; and can be wound on with more nicety. Whereas, chopped flax or tow is apt to make inequalities. To give the natural rise to the larger muscles, a piece of sliver should be cut of the length of the protuberance required, and placed in the part, and the sliver wrapped over it. This gives it a very natural appearance.

The mode of fixing the legs, is by passing one of their pieces of wire into the small ring of the horizontal or middle supporting wire. Pursue the same plan with the other leg, and then twist the two ends firmly together, by the aid of a pair of flat pincers. For an animal of the size of a cat, the pieces left for twisting must be from five to six inches in length. After being twisted, they are bound on the under side, of the body wire, with: strong thread ; the two legs are then replaced and put in the form in which we intend to fix them. The skin of the belly a d top of the shoulders is then anointed ; and a thick layer of flax placed under the middle wire. The snape is now given to the scapuke on both sides, and all the muscles of the shoulders imitated. These will be elevated or de-

pressed, according to the action intended to be expressed. The anterior part of the opening is now sewed up, to retain the stuffing, and to enable us to complete the formation of the shoulders and junction of the neck. This part of the animal is of great importance, as regards the perfection of its form ; and much of its beauty will depend upon this being well executed.

^ If the animal has been recently skinned, the best plan possible is to imitate, as nearly as possible, the muscles of the carcass ; by which many parts will be noticed which might otherwise have been neglected. Even to the comparative anatomist, I address this recommendation : copy nature whenever you have it in your power.

It must be observed as a general rule, that the wires for the hind legs of quadrupeds should always be longer than those of the fore legs.

The next thing is to form the hind legs and thighs, which must be done, as above described for the fore legs ; but with this difference, that they must be wound round with thread, drawn through the stuffing at intervals, to prevent it slipping up when returned into the skin of the leg. They are then fixed by passing the leg-wires into the second ring of the center body-wire, which is situated at or near the pelvis; the two ends are then bent, twisting them to the right and left around the ring ; and to make them still more secure, they should be wound round with small brass wire or packthread ; the tail-bearer is then attached in the manner formerly described.

Having completed this part of the iron work, the skin of the thigh is coated inside with the preservative, and the stuffing completed with chopped flax or tow. The whole inner parts of the skin which can be reached are again anointed, and the body stuffing completed with chopped flax. Care must be also paid not to stuff the belly too much, as the skin very easily dilates. The incision of the belly is now closed by bringing the skin together, and then sewed within and without ; while attention is paid to divide the. hairs, and not to take any of them in along with the thread ; but should any of them be inadvertently fixed, they can be picked out easily with the point, fig. 20. When this is completed, the hair will resume its natural order, and completely conceal the same.

The seam should now be well primed on both sides with the solution of corrosive sublimate, to prevent the entrance of moths.

The articulations of the legs are then bent, and the animal placed on its feet ; and pressure used at the natural flat places, so as to make the other parts rise where the muscles are visible.

I cannot take leave of this part without mentioning a plan which I invented, for giving full effect to the muscles of the

THE TAXIDEBMIST'S MANUAL.

shoulders. Having skinned a dog, immediately on removing the carcass, I took a plaster- of -paris cast from each of the shoulders ; and from these molds I cast a pair of shoulders. After having completed the internal stuffing, I applied these casts to the top of the tdw, and on the skin being brought , over them, they had the best effect imaginable ; and gave the complete appearance of the shoulder in the living animal. This method may be extended to the other visible muscles of the body with great effect ; and it is veiy easily and speedily accomplished. In short, every legitimate means of this kind should be thought of and adopted, at whatever expense and trouble it may be, to obtain the end in view ; namely, as close an imitation of the living subject as possible; for one well mounted specimen is worth fifty indifferently executed.

A board is now prepared, on which to place the cat. But before fixing it permanently, the animal should be set in the attitude in which it is intended to be preserved, and the operator having satisfied himself, then pierces four holes for the admission of the feet wires, which must be drawn through with a pair of pincers till the paws rest firmly on the board. Small grooves are then made for the reception of the pieces of wires which have been drawn through, so that they may be folded back and pressed down in them, and not be beyond the leW of the back of the board ; wire nails are now driven half in, and their heads bent down on the wires to prevent them from getting loose, or becoming movable. •

The stuffer next directs his attention to the position and final stuffing of the head and neck. The muscles of the face must be imitated as correctly as possible, by stuffing in cotton at the opening of the eyes, as also at the mouth, ears, and nostrils. To aid in this also, the inner materials may be drawn forward by the assistance of instruments, such as are* represented in figs 19 and 20, and also small pieces of wood formed like small knitting meshes.

Our next care is in the insertion of the eyes, which must- be done while the eyelids are yet fresh. Some dexterity and skill are required in this operation ; and on it will depend most of the beauty and character of the head. The seats of the eyes are supplied with a little cement, the eyes put in their place, and the eyelids properly drawn over the eyeballs ; but if rage or fear are to be expressed, a considerable portion of the eyeballs must be exposed. The lips are afterward disposed in their natural state, and fastened with pins. If the mouth is intended to be open, it will be necessary to support the lips with cotton, which can be removed when they are dry. Two small balls of cotton, firmly pressed together, and well tinctured with the arsenical soap, must be thrust into the nostrils, so as to completely plug them up, to prevent the air from^ penetrating, as also the intrusion of moths ; and besides it has the

TEE TAXIDERMIST'S MASTUAIj, effect of preserving the natural shape of the nose after it has dried. The same precaution should be adopted with the ears, which, in the cat, require but little attention in setting.

We must again recommend the stuffier to see that he has sufficiently applied the preservative soap ; and the nose, lips, ears, and paws, being very liable to decay, must be well imbued with spirits of turpentine. This is applied with a brush, and must be repeated six or eight times, at intervals of some days, until we are certain of the parts being well primed with it ; and, after all, it will be advisable to give it a single coating of the solution of corrosive sublimate.

The methods of stuffing, which we have pointed out in the preceding pages, are applicable to all animals, from a lion down to the smallest mouse. Animals of a large description, require a frame-work suited to their dimensions ; these we will point out in their systematic order. There are also some animals, whose peculiarity of structure requires treatment differing a little from the ordinary course.

APES AND MONKEYS.

One of the chief difficulties to contend with, in setting up monkeys and apes, is the preservation of their hands, and hind hands, or what are commonly called their feet ; because we must not attempt to deprive these limbs of their flesh, as we never could again supply its place, anything like what it is in nature. The hand must therefore be dried, and then well imbued with turpentine, and the solution of corrosive sublimate, repeated eight or ten times at least, at intervals of four or five days. The other parts of the stuffing should be exactly similar to that recommended for quadrupeds generally. The paws of several will require to be colored with the different varnishes, and, when dry, slightly polished with fine sand paper to remove the gloss. The callosities, on the hinder parts of many of them, will also require to be colored and treated in the same way as the face.

I3ATS.

The wing membranes of this varied and numerous tribe do not require either wire or parchment to set them. They are " very easily dried by distention. They are laid on a board of soft wood, the wings extended and pinned equally at the articulations, and when dry they are removed from the board.

' ". ■ THE ELYINGr LEMUR

Has a large flexible membrane, which envelopes the feet and extremities, and even the fingers and tail. This membrane should be laid open from within, and the preservative plentifully supplied to it, and then dried. Wires are afterward

introduced to keep the different parts distended, but we hay© found that by introducing buckram or stiff parchment, they are much more natural and pliable. They are to be stuffed and mounted as other quadrupeds.

HEDGEHOGS.

When it is wished to preserve hedgehog s rolled into a ball, which is a very common position with them in a state of nature,, there should be much less stuffing put into them than is usual with quadrupeds, so that they may the more easily bend. No wires are required in this case. The head and feet are drawn close together under the belly ; then place the animal on its back in the middle of a large cloth, and tie the four ends firmly together ; suspend it in the air till thoroughly dry, which finishes the operation.

If hedgehogs are wished, with the head and limbs exposed, the usual method of mounting is adopted. The skins of mice, moles, &c, having a very offensive smell, it will be necessary to add a considerable portion of the tincture of musk, to the solution of the corrosive sublimate, with which the skins are imbued. The same applies to badgers, foxes, wolves, wolverines, polecats and skunks, all of which are strong s^nelling animals.

BEAKS.

The structure of the wires requires to be different in these larger animals from any we have before described.

Procure a bar of wood one inch thick, two inches broad, and as long as to reach from the shoulders to the connection of the thighs, or Os pubis. A hole is bored four inches distant from one of its ends, from which a connecting groove must be formed, extending on both sides to the end of the plank next the hole ; this groove must be cut out with a hollow chisel, deep enough to receive the wire. The wire is then passed through it, one end of which is just left long enough to be twisted with the other at the end of the plank. The wire on both sides is now pressed down into the groove, and twisted firmly together by the aid of a pair of strong pincers. Pierce some holes obliquely into the groove, and insert some wire nails into them, which must be firmly driven home, and then bent over the wires to keep them firm. The longest end of the wire should be at least eighteen inches beyond the bar, so as to pass through the skull of the animal.

The use of this bar, it will be observed, is as a substitute for the central or supporting wires of the body. Two other holes are now bored into it, the one two, and the other three inches from the end which we first pierced ; these are for the reception of the wires of the fore-legs, and two similar holes must

he made at the other extremity of the bar for receiving the Vires of the hind legs.

Bears always support themselves on the full expansion of their dilated paws, so that it is necessary to bring the leg wires out at the claws. The leg wires are bent at right angles, for a length of five inches from the upper end. These are put through the holes in the bar, and when they have passed through they are curved again. Two small gimlet holes are then made for the reception of smaller wire, by which the leg wires must be bound together close to the bar. The fore-leg wires are fixed in the same manner, which completes the framework.

This seems to be the most simple manner which could be devised, for obtaining the end in view, and is that practiced at the Laboratory of the Jardin des Plantes at -Paris. No other means are used for middle sized animals, such as the lion, tiger, leopard, &c. The stuffing is completed as in other quadrupeds.

' The walrus, seals, and other amphibious animals of this order, are treated in the manner of quadrupeds generally, only that leg wires are unnecessary, except in the fore feet ; the tail, which represents the hind feet, has merely to be dried and kept properly stretched during this process, which precaution also applies to the fore feet. They are the easiest stuffed of all animals, only the skins are very oily, they should be well rubbed with the arsenical soap, and also with the preserving powder.

The stuffing of the walrus, the sea elephant and other large animals of this family, should consist of well dried hay for the interior parts and tow for the surface next the skin.

OPOSSUM, &q.

The females of the kangaroo, opossum, &c, have abdominal pouches in which they carry their young, and others have membranes which project from their sides. In drying the pouches, they require to be well primed with the preservative, and attention must be paid to show them properly in the stuffed animal. The membranes should be kept out by buckram or strong parchment as before recommended in the flying lemur,

BEAVEB, &o.

The beaver, muskrat, common rat and other animals whose skins have a strong smell, require to be plentifully supplied with the preservative. The tail of the beaver should be cut underneath, and all the flesh removed, then stuffed with tow or chopped flax, and afterward thoroughly dried and well primed with the arsenical soap to prevent putrefaction, to

THE TAXIDEBMIST'S MANXJAIj.

which it is very liable. It should also have repeated washings with oil of turpentine. The back should be round and short.

THE POKCUPINE.

In stuffing this animal considerable and varied expression may be given, both from the attitude and disposition of the quills. Great attention is therefore required in giving these a proper set during the process of drying. They will require to be looked at several times during the first and second day after they have been stuffed, and any of them that may have fallen out of position required to be adjusted.