Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit | Page 2

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