Guide to Taxidermy

This illustrated volume with fourteen chapters was published in 1914.

From the Preface:

The object of this book is to enable the reader
to gain complete mastery of the art of taxidermy.
We do not believe in the wanton destruction of
birds for ornamental purposes, nor do the laws in
most states, if properly enforced, allow of such
practices. We do believe, however, that at least
one person in every community should possess the
knowledge to enable him to correctly mount speci-
mens.

Millions of birds are killed yearly in the United
States by accidents, such as flying against light-
houses, telegraph wires, or buildings, etc. Practi-
cally none of these are saved because there is no
one at hand who has the requisite knowledge.

If only a fraction of one per cent, of all the birds
killed accidentally, and those shot by sportsmen
and thrown away, could be saved and correctly pre-
pared it would be unnecessary to shoot thousands
that are now killed every year simply for museum
purposes.

We trust that this book may be the means of cre-
ating a taxidermist or an enthusiast in every sec-
tion of the country, and that each one of them will
endeavor to persuade sportsmen to save most of
the game they kill. You will find that there Is
pleasure in doing the work for yourself and profit
in doing that for others.

In the following pages we give you the results
of our thirty-five years' experience in all branches
of taxidermy. No trade secrets are held back;
everything is laid bare. We have endeavored to
omit nothing that would be a help to the student
and to avoid the introduction of any hindrances.

We have illustrated every point as fully as pos-
sible, and are sure that any faithful reader and
worker can in a short time do work equal to that of
the best. The text, every drawing and every pho-
tograph used in this book is new and made express-
ly for this work. We wish to give credit to our
chief taxidermist, Mr. N. F. Stone, who mounted
a large number of the specimens that are pictured;
while a young man, he is one of the best that this
country has yet produced, a natural-born taxider-
mist.

We shall be more than pleased if, by our work,
others can be produced.

Chas. K. & C. A. Reed.
Worcester, Massachusetts.
May, 1908.