| During this period collecting and mounting of both | | | | February. |
| taxidermy birds and animals was undertaken on a | | | | Game birds may only be sold dead during the |
| commercial scale. Routinely specimens were | | | | open season and for a period of up to 10 days |
| collected from the wild in a random fashion. Birds, | | | | immediately after the end of that season. |
| chicks and eggs were taken for scientific | | | | Exhibition of Wild Birds |
| purposes and arranged in as natural representation | | | | It is an offence to show at any competition, or in |
| as possible. It is however interesting to observe, | | | | premises in which a competition is being held, any |
| when "stuffers" obtained specimens that they did | | | | live wild birds unless listed on Schedule 3, Part I |
| not observe in the wild, and the almost comical | | | | and ringed in accordance with the Secretary of |
| presenting of what was meant to be both a | | | | State's regulations. |
| natural pose and environment. Thankfully these | | | | Killing and Taking Birds |
| individuals were in the minority. For the best | | | | A number of methods of killing, injuring or taking |
| examples of antique taxidermy to survive that | | | | birds are prohibited. These include gins, springs, |
| era, it is best to observe the works by: | | | | traps leg pole traps), snares, nets, bird lime, |
| - Henry Ward | | | | electrical scaring devices and poisonous or |
| - Rowland Ward | | | | stupefying substances; bows or crossbows, |
| - Peter Spicer | | | | explosives (other than firearm ammunition), any |
| - William Hutchings | | | | gas or smoke, chemical wetting agent, artificial |
| - James Gardner | | | | light, mirror or dazzling device, device for |
| Above are just my personal view of who created | | | | illuminating target or sighting device for night |
| the best cases, you may feel free to disagree. | | | | shooting, automatic or semi-automatic weapon |
| However during the above period, almost every | | | | (unless it is incapable of holding more than 2 |
| small town in the UK has a resident taxidermist | | | | rounds in the magazine), or shotgun with an |
| plying their trade as a side line to more | | | | internal diameter at muzzle more than 1 3/4 |
| conventional employment. | | | | inches. |
| They heyday of this form of taxidermy display | | | | The use of sound recordings and decoys of live |
| was realistically from around 1875- until 1920. | | | | birds tethered, blinded or maimed is illegal. It is also |
| Companies such as Rowland Ward, Peter Spicer | | | | an offence to cause or permit such methods to |
| continued after that period, but interest in | | | | be used. Larsen traps (in which a magpie is kept in |
| Victoriana, was superseded by Art Deco, and | | | | a cage) are legal so long as the captive magpie is |
| therefore cases of dead animals seemed to have | | | | properly looked after. |
| no place. It was not until 1970 onwards did there | | | | It is an offence to use any mechanically propelled |
| appear to be resurgence in this subject and today | | | | vehicle - including boats - in immediate pursuit of a |
| taxidermy historical cases produced by the great | | | | wild bird to kill or take it. |
| firms now command thousands of pounds and | | | | It is an offence for any person to organise or |
| are now collected widely. | | | | participate in any event where captive birds of |
| It is interesting to note however that these items | | | | any sort are liberated to be shot immediately |
| were never cheap in their heyday and I suppose | | | | after liberation, or for a landowner or occupier to |
| that given their notional value now, it might not | | | | permit use of land for such an event. |
| represent a good investment, when you take into | | | | Birds in Captivity |
| account the "time value of money" principle. | | | | In addition to the registration requirements for |
| Given the resurgence, brought about in part by | | | | birds of prey and certain other Schedule 1 species |
| the disposal of the Jamaica Inn collection mainly | | | | (see Basic Protection), it is illegal to keep any bird |
| produced by Victorian Taxidermist Walter Potter | | | | (excluding poultry) in a cage or other receptacle |
| of Bramber in West Sussex. This collection was | | | | which is not of sufficient size to permit the bird to |
| sold for around £475,000. | | | | stretch its wings freely in all directions. Exceptions |
| America Taxidermy | | | | to this are if the bird is undergoing veterinary |
| The origins of taxidermy can be traced back to | | | | treatment, is in the course of conveyance or is |
| the ancient practice of preserving trophies from | | | | being exhibited: in the latter case the time the bird |
| the hunt. But its modern development arose from | | | | is so confined should not exceed an aggregate of |
| the interest in natural science that emerged during | | | | 72 hours. |
| the 17th century. In the 19th century taxidermy | | | | Attempting to Commit An Offence |
| became firmly established as a museum art in | | | | It is an offence to attempt to commit any |
| such commercial houses as Maison Verreaux in | | | | offence or have in one's possession anything |
| Paris and Ward's Natural Science Establishment in | | | | capable of being used to commit an offence. |
| Rochester, N.Y. | | | | Exceptions |
| One of the most noted American experts in the | | | | The most notable exceptions to the above |
| field was Carl E. Akeley (1864-1926), who first | | | | provisions are: |
| worked at Ward's before moving on to the Field | | | | An authorised person (e.g. a landowner or |
| Museum of Natural History in Chicago and the | | | | occupier) may kill or take so called 'pest species' |
| American Museum of Natural History in New York | | | | and destroy or take the nest or eggs of such a |
| City. He is credited with developing the taxidermic | | | | bird. This is permissible under the terms of general |
| method of mounting museum displays to show | | | | licenses issued by government departments. |
| how animals looked in their natural surroundings. | | | | A person charged with killing or attempting to kill a |
| He did this by showing animals in positions | | | | wild bird, other than one included on Schedule 1, |
| suggesting great activity; he also used real or | | | | shall not be guilty of an offence if he can show |
| artificial vegetation and painted backgrounds to | | | | his action was necessary for the purpose of |
| give an idea of habitat. Akeley's goal was to use | | | | preserving public health or air safety, preventing |
| taxidermy to create a panorama of Africa and its | | | | spread of disease or preventing serious damage |
| big game in museums across the United States. | | | | to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, |
| His method of mounting skin on a finely molded | | | | vegetables, fruit, growing timber or fisheries (see |
| replica of the body of an animal yielded results | | | | licenses). |
| with a degree of realism that had not been | | | | A person may take or kill (or injure in attempting |
| created before. His contributions elevated | | | | to kill), a bird listed on Schedule 2, Part I outside |
| taxidermy from a craft to an art form. | | | | the close season. |
| Taxidermy - The stuff memories are made of. | | | | Anyone may remove and destroy addled eggs |
| Kim McDonald | | | | but they must not be kept or sold. |
| Having been asked, some time ago to write an | | | | Authorised persons may take wild mallards' eggs |
| article for this directory, I finally sit down, three | | | | for breeding, but the young birds must be |
| days before the deadline and put pen to paper - | | | | released into the wild by 31 July. Wild mallard eggs |
| or as modern times dictate, fiddle with my | | | | and progeny cannot be sold. Wild eggs must not |
| computer. The next problem is what to write | | | | be taken later than 31 March in England and |
| about. Do I throw at the reader "A do it yourself | | | | Wales, or 10 April in Scotland. |
| guide to stuffing"?, No - I would need the whole | | | | Anybody can use nets to take wild duck in a |
| book to do that. Do I rant and rave about the | | | | duck decoy which was in use prior to 1954. |
| wonderful system of taxidermy licensing that has | | | | Anybody can use a cage or net to take any |
| been bestowed upon us or pay homage to the | | | | game bird for breeding, but it remains unlawful to |
| Article 10 - Hell no, that would also need a book | | | | net any bird in flight or on the ground with a net |
| and it wouldn't change a thing, although pressure is | | | | not propelled by hand. An obvious example of this |
| having some effect. Do I take the opportunity to | | | | is bird-ringing for scientific purposes, which almost |
| do a three page advert for myself, hmm, a good | | | | always requires the netting of birds in flight. This |
| idea but then the editor might charge me, so | | | | activity can therefore only be undertaken by a |
| instead I will give you the best advice I can on | | | | licensed person. |
| what to do, should you decide to have a | | | | A person may take a wild bird if he can satisfy |
| taxidermy specimen mounted. This will, without | | | | the court the bird had been injured other than by |
| apology, project into the limelight, a group of | | | | his own hand and that his sole purpose was to |
| dedicated exponents of the taxidermy art known | | | | tend it and then release it when no longer |
| as the Guild of Taxidermists. Why should I | | | | disabled; or he may kill it if he can prove it was so |
| advertise the Guild? - Simple, I happen to be the | | | | seriously disabled as to be beyond recovery. Sick |
| Chairman and I know what benefits it can present | | | | and injured birds listed on Schedule 4 should be |
| the client - that is you. So, let us presume you | | | | registered with the Department of the |
| have found yourself in the unfortunate position of | | | | Environment or passed to an approved keeper. |
| losing (by way of death) a specimen - a valued | | | | Egg Collections |
| friend, one of your flock, worth God knows what, | | | | Under Section 1(3) of the Act, egg collectors may |
| in time, money and sentimentality | | | | be required to show that any eggs in their |
| It happens to us all. Basically, you are presented | | | | possession were lawfully obtained. This means |
| with three choices:- - you can, with or without the | | | | that they must either have been obtained under |
| aid of volley of shots fired over the intended | | | | license, or form part of a collection which was |
| burial site, intern it in a wooden casket and return | | | | assembled prior to 1954. |
| it to the earth or be even more illustrious, if it is | | | | Licences |
| of Scandinavian origin, give it a Viking send off. - | | | | Licenses may be issued by government |
| you can place it in the freezer immediately and | | | | departments to kill or take birds and/or eggs for |
| then ring up the nearest taxidermist and sell the | | | | the following purposes: |
| carcass - it will have a value. It may not | | | | Scientific or educational |
| necessarily be enough to purchase a new | | | | Ringing or marking |
| taxidermy specimen but it will recoup some of | | | | Conserving wild birds |
| the financial loss- or again, place it in the freezer | | | | Protecting any collection of wild birds |
| and elect to have it mounted, set up, or to put it | | | | Falconry or aviculture |
| bluntly, stuffed. Actually, we in the trade do not | | | | Taxidermy |
| like the word "stuffed". It conjures up visions of a | | | | Preserving public health or air safety |
| boggle eyed monster in a glass fronted box, | | | | Preventing serious damage to livestock, |
| unnaturally taxidermy posed and hanging on the | | | | foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, |
| wall of a old museum. These days, a good | | | | fruit,growing timber or fisheries |
| taxidermist will model your specimen into an | | | | Killing a gannet for food on the island of Sula Sgeir |
| anatomically correct position and bear witness to | | | | Taking a gull's egg for food |
| its traits and idiosyncrasies. In other words, | | | | Taking a lapwing's egg for food before 15 April |
| providing you pick the right artist, you will get a | | | | Licenses may also be granted for the sale of live |
| job worthy of that specimen. | | | | birds (except those listed on Schedule 3, Part I) |
| Who then is the right person for the job? You | | | | and the sale of dead birds or their parts; for |
| may already know of a taxidermist and you may | | | | scientific examination and photography of a |
| already be happy with the work. Great, but if you | | | | Schedule 1 species at its nest and for the public |
| don't, it can be a taxing decisionYou presumably | | | | exhibition or competition of birds not listed on |
| will dive into the yellow pages or if you are | | | | Schedule 3, Part I. |
| computer minded, trawl through various websites, | | | | Falconry |
| both sources being full of advertisers claiming to | | | | Falconers can obtain a quarry license to take wild |
| be the best. So now you know of loads of | | | | birds with birds of prey, for example taking a |
| taxidermists, but which one is best suited? Well, | | | | skylark with a merlin. This is not necessary to |
| help is at hand. The best place to start is the Guild | | | | take game birds, but a game license must be |
| of Taxidermists. Why?, well we run the only | | | | obtained from a post office. Schedule 2 birds may |
| qualification in the U.K. available to the trade. The | | | | also be taken without a quarry or game license |
| qualifications are earned by way of "credits" which | | | | under certain circumstances- under a general |
| are mounted specimens judged by a panel to be | | | | license when causing serious damage to agriculture |
| of an acceptable standard.. A member must gain | | | | or for the purpose of conserving wild birds. |
| six credits in any one particular field (Bird, | | | | Fines & penalties |
| Mammal, Fish/Reptile, Head Mount) before he or | | | | The maximum fine that can be imposed in |
| she becomes a "Specialist". Likewise an | | | | respect of a single bird, nest or egg receiving |
| "Accredited" member has to earn six "credits" | | | | ordinary protection is £1,000. For offences |
| including Birds, Mammals and Fish/Reptile to attain | | | | involving a Schedule 1 species or an illegal method |
| that title. Judging is not just a case of saying " oh | | | | of killing (e.g. poisoning) the maximum is |
| I like that, that's a pass", The panel of three | | | | £5,000. In recent years these fines have |
| judges plus an adjudicator (all of whom are | | | | been rarely applied, but on a few occasions there |
| qualified taxidermists) has to be satisfied that a | | | | have been very heavy fines or even |
| specimen has passed a required standard. A | | | | imprisonment applied for offences under this Act, |
| standard some say is often, if anything, erring | | | | in particular for egg-collecting which has been very |
| towards being too strict. However, a line is drawn | | | | proactively prosecuted. |
| and if the work doesn't come up to scratch, it | | | | Some interesting financial information to consider |
| doesn't earn a "credit". A "Master " has to earn | | | | We have been following the resurgence of this |
| three "higher category credits" in each field to be | | | | Taxidermy over the last 18 months following the |
| awarded the top qualification. The judging of those | | | | disposal of the Jamaica Inn collection. Prices have |
| credits is done by the panel plus all taxidermists | | | | been steadily creeping ever upwards. Recent |
| present at our annual Conference. | | | | review of the situation has provided an insight into |
| Consequently they are a rare achievement. We | | | | this. Data has been collected over this period from |
| have however among our members a few who | | | | EBay, Auction houses and collectors selling to |
| are well on their way to a Master, having gained | | | | collectors. Some 126 cases (Ward, Cooper, |
| qualification in one or more fields. The Guild will be | | | | Gardner, Spicer), etc, etc, have been disposed of |
| able to advise you of who in your locality is such | | | | that we know of giving a sale total of |
| a member and what they specialise in. If there is | | | | £85,332. This equates to an average price |
| no one in your area we will point you to a | | | | per taxidermy case now selling for £677.23, |
| selection of the nearest. At this point, it is only | | | | which in our opinion is perhaps the highest |
| fair to say that not all taxidermists are members | | | | average cost per case seen in recent times. |
| of the Guild. There are a few lost souls out there | | | | We have no American data to compare this |
| and one or two are quite good. Likewise, not all | | | | trend and this does not include the sale of the |
| members of the Guild are Accredited, Specialists | | | | collection of Taxidermy @ Jamaica Inn, which |
| or Masters. Whatever your choice, care of the | | | | fetched some £475,000 |
| specimen does not end as soon as it dies. It is | | | | There has also been the suggestion that due to |
| imperative that the carcass is frozen as soon | | | | increased demand for this subject, items are |
| after death as possible. It should be well wrapped | | | | becomming increasingly rare to find. Whilst this is |
| - a polybag or two or a tupperware box often | | | | true, it is our opinion that taxidermy cases are |
| calms the wife down. The bird treated with the | | | | not rare, just currently unavailable for purchase. |
| respect it deserves, not just chucked into the | | | | Limited discussions with some taxidermy |
| corner of the freezer. | | | | collectors on a confidential basis, shows that in our |
| It is also no good burying it and then 2 weeks | | | | some circle, there are some 4000 cases in |
| later deciding you want it mounted and digging it | | | | private hands, let alone those people we do not |
| up. Believe me, that has happenedThe condition of | | | | know and specimens that reside in museums and |
| your specimen will dictate the standard of the | | | | the like. The Victorians were certainly prolific in |
| finished item. Miracles can happen and often do, | | | | their output. |
| but if the plumage is in poor condition, this, with | | | | I am always interested in facts associated with |
| possibly a slight improvement once washed and | | | | Taxidermy. I am currently composing a document |
| lustred, will show on the finished mount, as will | | | | which compares prices of taxidermy collection |
| one leg or a bald head. As I say miracles can | | | | that have sold recently. Whilst this is of limited |
| sometimes be performed, spare part surgery is | | | | value currently, in a few years time it may prove |
| possible, but at a cost That little word "cost" is | | | | valuable when considering the inevitable "trends" in |
| also a dictating factor. What will it cost? Well that's | | | | fashion. I wonder say whether taxidermy will be a |
| down to the particular taxidermist. However as a | | | | valuable in 15 years time as it appears to be |
| guide, should you be quoted £50 to mount a | | | | today. If you have any data which you may feel |
| Peregrine or for that matter £50 for | | | | is suitable for research then please send it either |
| anything, be very wary. Better still, put the phone | | | | to or Victorian-taxidermy.com, we would be very |
| down. Without tying anybody down to a particular | | | | pleased to receive it Many thanks for your time. |
| rate, a Peregrine is more likely to cost in the | | | | Arguably the founding father of Victorian |
| region of £275. and that's without a case. A | | | | Taxidermy, Walter Potter was born on July 2nd |
| Barn Owl, say £175 to £280. On the | | | | 1835 in the village of Bramber near Steyning in |
| other side of the coin, if you are quoted | | | | West Sussex. |
| £1000 for the same job, seek a second | | | | Very little remains of this today and the actual |
| opinion. Another clue to your taxidermists | | | | site is now a house. No plaque commemorates |
| "standing" is often the time taken to complete | | | | this man's taxidermy achievements in this art |
| your order. If you are quoted "it will be finished | | | | form. Walter is possible most famous for the |
| next week" forget it. | | | | "The Death and Burial of Cock Robin". (23rd |
| That is generally a good pointer to a taxidermist's | | | | September 03 The Victorian Taxidermy |
| reputation. Obviously, in this case, they haven't | | | | Company ltd successfully purchased this most |
| got much work and it begs the question, why? | | | | important case following the dismemberment of |
| Foot and Mouth scares apart (this slows down the | | | | the Jamaica Inn collection) |
| amount of work coming in - especially of Fish and | | | | The Cock Robin tableau attracted much public |
| Deer) most good taxidermists will have at least | | | | attention that encouraged Walter to pursue his |
| three to six months work and often more to do | | | | hobby and produce further tableaux depicting |
| before getting to your order. So if you are | | | | groups of animals behaving as though they were |
| quoted six months, don't worry - at least other | | | | tiny humans. Potter quickly became the leading |
| people must be satisfied for that practice to have | | | | exponent of this kind of taxidermy and his |
| so much work. A bird the size of a Peregrine can | | | | collection expanded sufficiently to require a special |
| take a day or more to mount and two or three | | | | building that was constructed across the road |
| weeks to dry. If ordering a case as well, it cannot | | | | from the Inn, now a public car park. . The |
| be sealed until the specimen is completely dried. It | | | | collection was moved to Brighton where it opened |
| could be done in a week but it might not last | | | | for its 112th season and then it was relocated |
| much longer. Whatever your requirement, the | | | | again to the Old Post Office in Arundel where it |
| Guild is there for the good of the trade. To | | | | remained for some 15 years, prior to its final |
| achieve that it must give the best advice available | | | | museum resting place at Jamaica Inn. The |
| to the customer. Although our members are not | | | | dispersal (Globally) of this art form took place on |
| tied to a contract with the Guild - they operate | | | | 23/24th September 2003 by Bonham's, achieving |
| with a free hand - they are however, subject to | | | | some £475,000 approximately at auction. I |
| a code of conduct and do not wish to bring the | | | | wonder what old man Potter would have made |
| Guild or the trade into disrepute. We've had no | | | | of this had he been there.?. |
| complaint so far. | | | | Sometimes the Victorians got it wrong |
| Tuesday August 8, 2006 The Guardian | | | | The public's enthusiasm for such displays was |
| Emily Mayer's studio is not for the squeamish, | | | | huge and the need to impress often led to faux |
| especially squeamish dog-lovers. Inside the former | | | | pas. In Britain, for example, a fossilised spike from |
| workhouse hospital, three very alive Jack | | | | an iguanodon's nose was famously exhibited as its |
| Russell-chihuahua crosses gambol among an ark of | | | | big thumb. The Victorian Museum was a place to |
| deceased relatives. Rosie the border collie reclines | | | | experience awe, education, titillation and man's |
| on a purple sofa. Bertha the foxhound lies, paws | | | | power over nature. Exhibits became trophies and |
| crossed, on a workbench. A fox is curled inside a | | | | were displayed as such. The most popular exhibits |
| suitcase. Finally, there is The Dog's Bollocks, a | | | | in the Dublin museum are the fossilised skeleton |
| taxidermied rat that Mayer believes is her most | | | | of the extinct giant Irish deer, which is higher than |
| perfectly recreated rodent yet. He is rolling a jar | | | | a horse and with antlers as wide again, and the |
| containing a pair of canine testicles. They came | | | | skeleton of a blue whale. Suspended from the |
| from her neighbour's randy dog, who got the | | | | ceiling, this runs almost the full length of the hall. |
| chop. When not turning strong stomachs, | | | | What is striking about this natural history collection |
| taxidermy has long aroused strong emotions. For | | | | is the unnatural nature of it. Victorian taxidermists |
| many, a childhood fascination for the glassy-eyed | | | | would probably never have seen most of the |
| inhabitants of the Natural History Museum ends | | | | animals alive, so they had to use their imaginations |
| when teenage indignation at the abuse of animals | | | | in striking poses. Some of the results are bizarre. |
| kicks in. For generations, the art of preserving | | | | What Price Natural History Collections, or 'Why do |
| dead creatures has been considered at worst | | | | we need all these bloody mice?' by Charles Pettitt, |
| barbaric and at best a relic of 19th-century | | | | Manchester Museum [publ. 1991 in Mus. Journal 91 |
| colonialism. | | | | (8): 25-28] |
| Now, however, a new breed of artists and | | | | The Under-valuation of Natural History Collections |
| collectors are discovering taxidermy. A manky | | | | 'Why do we need all these bloody mice?' is a |
| hoof or a moth-eaten fox head that once | | | | question once asked by the leader of a large local |
| adorned your granny's spare room is probably | | | | authority on a visit to the research collections of |
| propped on the wall of an expensive restaurant. A | | | | a major museum. In many ways this sums up |
| new shop selling taxidermy is opening next year in | | | | the attitude of most politicians. The attitude of |
| London's achingly fashionable Shoreditch. Kate | | | | the public, on the other hand, is encapsulated in |
| Moss has just spent several thousand pounds on | | | | the words of a car sticker, 'Preserve wild life - |
| a piece of taxidermy sculpture - a dead bluetit on | | | | Pickle a squirrel', which surely indicates that the |
| a prayer book - by the east London-based artist | | | | public mistakenly view natural history museums as |
| Polly Morgan. Mayer, an artist and taxidermist who | | | | places haunted by necrophiliacs interested only in |
| has quietly worked in south Norfolk for a decade, | | | | dead material. Even some naturalists nowadays |
| has A-list clients including restaurateur Marco | | | | fail to recognise the relevance of museum natural |
| Pierre White and artist Damien Hirst, with whom | | | | history collections. |
| she has collaborated on a number of works. | | | | The use to society of natural history collections is |
| Taxidermy is also returning to the mainstream: | | | | enormous, but too often their value is poorly |
| ordinary punters are buying antiques on eBay and | | | | understood by the public and by politicians. The |
| at auctions, while a new novel endorsed by | | | | gradual loss of interest in the world of nature by |
| Richard & Judy's bookclub - The Conjurer's Bird | | | | the scientific community and the public during the |
| by Martin Davies - has for a hero a character | | | | first part of this century has progressively |
| who once would have been considered an | | | | downgraded the resources devoted to natural |
| outcast: a taxidermist. Until this renaissance, | | | | history in museums. Nowadays museum funding |
| taxidermy was usually associated with the | | | | for natural history is significantly lower than that |
| Victorians and their thirst to discover and classify | | | | for the arts; even fairly insignificant art objects |
| the natural world. Species found by Captain James | | | | are far more cossetted than any natural history |
| Cook in the 18th century were taxidermied and | | | | specimen ever is. So why does society considers |
| brought home, but until collectors discovered the | | | | spending several million pounds for a painting a |
| preservative properties of arsenic, few early | | | | public benefit, while a few thousand pounds to |
| specimens survived. (The earliest known surviving | | | | maintain a natural history collection is seen as a |
| example is the Duchess of Richmond's African | | | | drain on the public purse? Too often people say |
| grey parrot, which died in 1702 and is still perched | | | | of large collections 'but what good are they if we |
| in Westminster Abbey.) Charles Darwin was a | | | | can't see them?'; these people fail to understand |
| taxidermist and, by the 1890s, cities such as | | | | the enormous value large research collections |
| Birmingham boasted 18 taxidermy firms. Most | | | | have as objective data banks with an irreplaceable |
| genteel mantelpieces - even in urban areas - were | | | | historical dimension. |
| adorned with trophies bagged from the empire - | | | | The Value of Natural History Collections |
| or the local copse. | | | | We do need those bloody mice! Natural history |
| "They were a reminder of nice things in nature | | | | collections still have a major role to play in many |
| beyond the grimy cities," says Dr Pat Morris, the | | | | aspects of life today. Studying an outstanding |
| man who authenticated the Duchess of | | | | painting or some fine porcelain may convince you |
| Richmond's parrot. "They were like | | | | that the species that can produce such beauty |
| three-dimensional pictures in people's drawing | | | | should be preserved, but it will not help one jot |
| rooms. Then the real decline took place in the | | | | towards combating disease, environmental |
| 1950s and 1960s when it became less socially | | | | pollution, or the 'greenhouse effect'. Natural history |
| acceptable. There were other things to do with | | | | collections can and do contribute significantly to |
| animals rather than shooting them, such as filming | | | | these and other scientific studies vital to human |
| and photographing them. And the animals were | | | | society and to life on planet Earth. |
| getting scarcer and scarcer." Furry and feathered | | | | Art objects tend to have high market values, |
| exotica remained beyond the pale for decades. | | | | which most natural history objects at present do |
| Now, as antique specimens and pieces of modern | | | | not, although the Moa egg recently broken in a |
| art, dead beasts are creeping back into living | | | | Tasmanian museum was valued at |
| rooms. "That stigma that went with stuffed | | | | £600,000, a respectable figure even |
| animals has gone. People have lost that 'Urrgh, do | | | | compared with current art object auction prices. |
| I really want a dead animal in my living room?' | | | | If, however, one considers the cost of attempting |
| says John Baddeley of Bonham's auctioneers. | | | | to replace a natural history collection, then its |
| "There is also a re-emergence of people who | | | | monetary value would generally be astronomical. |
| want to buy them because they are a work of | | | | Natural history curators are beginning to regard |
| art and fit into a particular Victorian interior style." | | | | their collections as a unified whole - one collection |
| Prices are spiralling. Tatty birds that have sat | | | | with many homes. This approach is being fostered |
| stolidly through a 100-year afterlife inside a glass | | | | in the U.K. by the work of the Federation for |
| case are fetching three times their guide prices at | | | | Natural Sciences Collections Research |
| provincial auctions. A private collection of 150 birds | | | | [FENSCORE], aided by the increasing |
| including a number by the acclaimed | | | | computerisation of collection data, and by the |
| Norwich-based taxidermist Thomas Edward Gunn | | | | establishment of regional collecting policies by |
| (1844-1922) was sold at an auction in Diss, | | | | groups of curators. However, the full benefits to |
| Norfolk, last month. A (now endangered) bittern | | | | society of these efforts will be long delayed |
| fetched £950 (compared with an estimated | | | | unless more funding is directed to natural history |
| price of £260-£300), while an avocet, | | | | collection care. |
| expected to sell for £60-£90, went for | | | | The Biology Curators Group (BCG) is presently |
| £620. The boom in new taxidermy, | | | | campaigning to raise awareness of the importance |
| meanwhile, is happening despite a number of | | | | of the great national resource that the natural |
| myths. "People still say 'How many animals do you | | | | history collections in British institutions represent - |
| kill a week?'" says Mayer. "They have no idea that | | | | a resource the vast extent of which is only now |
| the number of animals who die naturally more | | | | becoming apparent through the work of |
| than cover the work we do." The laws that | | | | FENSCORE. A comment in the 1989 OAL report |
| govern taxidermy in the UK are strict. Every | | | | The cost of collecting: 'Analysis of the intellectual, |
| specimen created after 1947 requires paperwork | | | | social and economic benefits of museum |
| documenting its history and cause of death. It is | | | | collections must await another study, perhaps a |
| legal to pick up most animal and bird species that | | | | companion study to this one' reveals the need to |
| have died naturally in the UK although there is a | | | | address the true value of these collections. Later, |
| list of banned - rare - species. "By far the | | | | the report briefly assesses the value of (all) |
| overwhelming majority of taxidermists came into | | | | collections entirely in economic terms such as |
| the profession through a genuine love of wildlife," | | | | 'turnover of museums and galleries was estimated |
| says Katrina Cook of the Natural History Museum. | | | | at £230m in 1985/86 with a value added of |
| Nor is taxidermy simply "stuffing animals". The | | | | £141m' - which makes it sound as if we are |
| word itself means "to arrange skin". "A good | | | | running a chain of hamburger bars. |
| taxidermist is a sculptor, artist and naturalist rolled | | | | An international asset |
| into one," says Cook. A taxidermist measures the | | | | Science knows no boundaries; collections are not |
| carcass from all angles, notes eye colour and | | | | national possessions but assets of the entire |
| other soft parts, removes the skin, sculpts a | | | | scientific world. The UK holds a significant |
| model of the body (balsawood and wire for small | | | | percentage of the types from other countries, |
| birds; fibreglass or foam for larger specimens) and | | | | particularly the ex-colonies. In addition those |
| sews the skin back on. Anatomical knowledge and | | | | countries rely on us for access to material |
| a feel for your animal-on-the-move is essential. | | | | collected during times past, and we as a nation |
| "There's a lot of fieldwork involved," says Duncan | | | | owe a duty to those countries to treat their |
| Ferguson, general secretary of the Guild of | | | | material professionally. To discharge this duty we |
| Taxidermists. "Although nine times out of 10, the | | | | must curate the collections adequately, publicise |
| animal tells you what position it goes into." | | | | them and allow efficient access to them. Access |
| "In America, most taxidermists come from the | | | | includes loaning material. Although the long-standing |
| hunting, shooting and fishing fraternity. In this | | | | under-funding of museum natural history has |
| country, they don't," says Mayer, a singular | | | | made adequate curation and publicity difficult, a |
| individual who pinned desiccated rabbits to her | | | | hugh number of international loans of natural |
| bedroom wall as a child. An increasing number of | | | | history material for research are already made |
| contemporary taxidermists are artists. Maurizio | | | | from Britain. However, it is unacceptable that |
| Cattelan, who is based in the US, is famous for | | | | according to Biological Collections UK 300,000 |
| sculptures such as The Ballad of Trotsky, a horse | | | | foreign specimens held in Britain are not available |
| suspended from the ceiling. Hirst himself tried and | | | | for loan, mainly because of financial stringency. |
| failed to buy all 6,000 pieces of taxidermy in | | | | USE OF NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS IN |
| Walter Potter's Museum of Curiosities in Cornwall | | | | RESEARCH |
| when the collection was auctioned off in 2003. | | | | Underpinning taxonomy |
| The witty and macabre Potter was famous in | | | | . |
| Victorian times for his anthropomorphised work - | | | | Taxonomy is Mankind's oldest profession; it is the |
| tableaus typically showing squirrels playing cards, a | | | | alpha and the omega of biological science, from |
| kittens' wedding party and rats rescuing each | | | | the first naming of newly discovered variation, to |
| other from a trap. Mayer does not approve of | | | | the incorporation of all knowledge into a system. |
| anthropomorphism but enjoys a similarly playful | | | | Unfortunately taxonomy is so fundamental it |
| use of her skills (a novelty beard made from 12 | | | | often escapes notice or is even disparaged. Not |
| white mice - shown on G2's cover- and a piglet | | | | long ago a university vice-chancellor (a biologist |
| handbag) but has focused on developing a | | | | himself) pronounced: 'Taxonomy has had its day; |
| laborious process called erosion moulding. Many | | | | hard number biology is what is needed now.' It is |
| traditional taxidermists don't believe it is proper | | | | dangerous to accept dismissive statements about |
| taxidermy but it bestows an astonishing lifelike | | | | any branch of science. Taxonomy is not stale or |
| sheen on the dead. And it is more durable than | | | | worked out; time and again it has been revitalised: |
| orthodox taxidermy. Mayer can take Rosie the | | | | by new data from genetics and chemotaxonomy, |
| collie into the shower to wash her fur. | | | | new concepts of mathematical analysis such as |
| Demand for taxidermy may be soaring, but the | | | | numerical and multivariate analysis, and by |
| number of taxidermists is falling. Taxidermists are | | | | cladistics and molecular biology, to mention only |
| worried about the lack of young people in the | | | | some recent developments. |
| craft. The salary - about £15,000 in | | | | Non-biologists and administrators often fail to |
| museums - is not tempting. "If no kids want to do | | | | appreciate the necessity for obtaining accurate |
| it, taxidermy is not going to survive," says Mayer. | | | | identification of biological material, or the difficulties |
| Twenty years ago, the Guild of Taxidermy had | | | | of so doing without access to good reference |
| 320 members. Now it has 200. Of these, about 10 | | | | collections. The strange fact is that, even as the |
| work in museums and 30 are full-time commercial | | | | demand for assistance with identifications |
| taxidermists. The rest are part-time (although | | | | threatens to submerge those able to provide the |
| Ferguson estimates that there may be some | | | | service, research funders still regard taxonomic |
| 2,000 other hobbyist taxidermists). Many | | | | work with a jaundiced eye. Ironically, a few |
| museums, according to Dr Morris, seem to be | | | | weeks after making his pronouncement the |
| afraid to support taxidermy because it is politically | | | | vice-chancellor mentioned above appeared in his |
| incorrect. "There is a suspicion that museums are | | | | university's herbarium clutching a handful of leaves |
| frightened of offending people," he says. Cook, | | | | from shrubs in the garden of his residence, asking |
| who works to preserve the Natural History | | | | for identification. |
| Museum's bird collection, argues that taxidermy | | | | The attitudes 'we've done that bit' and 'we have |
| remains crucial in science and education. | | | | all the identification keys we need, thanks' are |
| "Preserving the skin of an animal is vital to the | | | | prevalent. However, keys can mislead: 'it is not A |
| study of natural history. It has enabled us to | | | | or B so it must be C' is usually how they are |
| identify and describe specimens for science and | | | | used; but this presupposes that all the possible |
| keep what we call 'type specimens'. Taxidermy is | | | | species are in the key, while 'it' might actually be |
| sadly all we have left of extinct species such as | | | | species D! It is important always to confirm |
| the Great Auk or Passenger Pigeon." | | | | identification against a reputable reference |
| One new taxidermist is artist Polly Morgan. The | | | | collection. More than one PhD student has faced a |
| contents of her freezer are not what you would | | | | massive rewrite of their thesis after belatedly |
| expect of a well-spoken 26-year-old. Wrapped in | | | | identifying correctly the organism studied using a |
| Sainsbury's bags are a large weasel (with frosted | | | | museum reference collection. |
| whiskers), a robin, a huge grey squirrel from | | | | Environmental Studies |
| London, a bat, two white rabbits, a rat, a guinea | | | | Many studies in the fields of ecology, evolution, |
| pig, a chubby wood pigeon, a bag of mice and a | | | | pollution and climatic changes require museum |
| tiny quail chick. "I didn't think I could learn because | | | | specimens. Provided selective collecting is allowed |
| you don't normally meet taxidermists," she says. | | | | for, museum collections are logical places for life |
| "And you tend to think of it being archaic or a | | | | history studies. Using existing collections for such |
| byproduct of hunting, and I'm not into hunting." | | | | studies often enables large amounts of data to be |
| Morgan grew up in the countryside, surrounded by | | | | accumulated in a short time on such things as |
| animals. Now her mum and a local vet keep her | | | | fecundity/mortality patterns, host-parasite |
| supplied with roadkill and deceased pets. "I get | | | | relationships, estimates of breeding seasons, |
| calls from people I've only met once at a party | | | | micro-growth increments (many organisms show |
| saying their cat brought something in and did I | | | | growth layers when sectioned, such as the 'rings' |
| want it. I will drive for miles to collect something, | | | | of a tree, and these can be used to study past |
| although I'm getting a bit sick of squirrels and | | | | environmental conditions), food pests, life-cycle |
| pigeons." | | | | duration, larval growth pattern, migration (museum |
| Both Morgan and Mayer like to exhibit art that, | | | | collections have been used to locate locust |
| unlike traditional taxidermy, makes no pretence to | | | | outbreak sites and to track traditional migration |
| be alive. "Taxidermists are really quite purist. They | | | | patterns), species that mimic other animals, and |
| like to pretend death doesn't happen and they are | | | | other polymorphisms, plant fecundity, flowering |
| resurrecting animals," says Mayer. "By portraying | | | | and fruiting dates, periods of dormancy, and |
| an animal as dead you get much closer to the | | | | correlations of plant growing sites with rainfall or |
| truth and it is more disturbing for people to look | | | | altitude. Systematics collections provide a wealth |
| at. I'm not interested in making pieces of work | | | | of historical information on habitat composition, |
| where people aren't challenged." Morgan, too, likes | | | | and on the distribution of plants and animals, that |
| making "dead" sculptures. "Birds have such a good | | | | is invaluable to those predicting ecological shifts |
| posture when they die - on their backs with their | | | | due to global climate change. For plants particularly, |
| head on one side. It creates a heart shape. Their | | | | herbarium specimens, accumulated over the past |
| wings open and I find something quite touching | | | | 200 years, remain the most readily available |
| about how they look - peaceful but vulnerable at | | | | source of information on structural variation and |
| the same time." Rather than naturalistic settings, | | | | geographical distribution. |
| she might curl a rat into a wine glass. One such | | | | Nature Conservation |
| piece, which looked like a bizarre sorbet, fetched | | | | The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds |
| £2,200. She currently has pieces showing at | | | | (RSPB) understandably discourages the use of bird |
| Laz Inc gallery in London and at Studeley Castle in | | | | mounts in public displays. One museum which put |
| Gloucestershire. | | | | on a display to celebrate the recent centenary of |
| Might the return of taxidermy pose a threat to | | | | the RSPB readily agreed to use a model of an |
| endangered species? Six years ago, a taxidermist | | | | Avocet prepared by an RSPB recommended |
| from north London who illegally sold a virtual zoo | | | | modeller, in place of a mount; a short time later |
| of endangered species, including two stuffed tiger | | | | the modeller 'phoned the museum to request the |
| cubs less than a week old (killed before their eyes | | | | loan of a mounted Avocet to enable him to make |
| opened), was sentenced to six months in prison. | | | | an accurate model. Often it is only by studying |
| Robert Sclare pleaded guilty to 29 counts of | | | | bird mounts and eggs from museum collections |
| forgery relating to applications to trade. After | | | | that artists are able to paint the colour plates in |
| serving his time, he returned and reopened his | | | | the plethora of bird identification guides used by |
| business, Get Stuffed. The shop, described after | | | | bird lovers; such artists still account for a large |
| the trial by animal rights campaigners as "an | | | | number of loans from the major bird collections. |
| animal shop of horrors" continues to trade today. | | | | The mapping of distribution patterns of birds, |
| According to Andy Fisher, head of the | | | | animals, plants and so on, essential to protect the |
| Metropolitan Wildlife Crime Unit, there have been | | | | environment, and for the adequate assessment |
| no big seizures of illegal taxidermy in the UK since | | | | of planning applications, also needs natural history |
| Get Stuffed was raided, although the unit has | | | | collections; maps of rare and critical species can |
| confiscated illegal taxidermy from elsewhere, | | | | be reliably prepared only from museum (voucher) |
| including rare birds and sea turtles. Growing | | | | specimens. Reliable maps of common species |
| interest in taxidermy is not yet reflected in | | | | need voucher specimens - particularly for islands. |
| seizures of banned items. "We do monitor various | | | | Many erroneous records are found, made by |
| internet sites. If there was a resurgence in rare | | | | distinguished visitors who record what they |
| species then we would be concerned but I think | | | | expect to see rather than what is there. |
| the majority of things being sold are fairly old or | | | | Vouchers are especially important for introduced |
| are not banned species. It is something we're | | | | species or those from limited habitats, and for |
| keeping an eye on." David Cowdrey of the WWF | | | | ecological surveys. Unfortunately some important |
| praises the Guild of Taxidermists for fighting | | | | recent publications on local authority nature |
| wildlife crime and says there is an excellent | | | | conservation have failed to remark the |
| relationship between many taxidermists and those | | | | importance of voucher specimens and reference |
| tackling the trade in illegally killed animals. Most of | | | | collections, and have totally ignored the wealth of |
| the problems tend to come from foreign | | | | dedicated nature conservation expertise in local |
| specimens. He urges people not to buy taxidermy | | | | authority museums, and the biological recording |
| from abroad and report any suspicions to the | | | | initiatives currently active in those museums in |
| WWF. Cook, meanwhile, advises buyers to | | | | practically every county. However, English Nature's |
| beware of buying items said to be antique but | | | | recent major report on nature conservation |
| without the proof. | | | | states: 'some provincial museums and universities |
| Fashions are cyclical and the sudden appearance | | | | ... collections also continue to be an important |
| of taxidermy in interior design is an obvious | | | | source of reference and data supporting survey |
| reaction to minimalism, just as that was, in the | | | | and other research'. Two large, and expensive, |
| words of Cook, "a reaction against the antiquated | | | | surveys, one for river valley authority in America |
| picture of the dusty Victorian drawing room | | | | and one for an oil company, failed to preserve |
| complete with aspidistra and elephant's foot | | | | voucher material in a permanent collection. Both |
| umbrella stand". But part of the resurgence of | | | | surveys were carried out by recent graduates |
| interest in taxidermy may also be, as Cook puts | | | | with little taxonomic experience, and their findings |
| it, an aesthetic pleasure. She found with | | | | have since been successfully challenged; without |
| taxidermy she could "make a beautiful thing last | | | | the voucher material these surveys were largely |
| forever". Mayer admits it can feel "like cutting | | | | a waste of money. But accessioning and |
| your mother up" when you make the first incision | | | | maintaining voucher collections costs money, and, |
| in a much-loved pet. "I've got a lot of respect for | | | | as is now generally the case in America, such |
| animals, which is why I don't anthropomorphise | | | | costs should be built into survey funding . |
| them. If you are going to mess around with | | | | Biochemistry and the historical dimension |
| animals you should give them the best possible | | | | Objects can contain undiscovered or potential |
| afterlife." | | | | information, the need for which may not yet |
| Taxidermist John Cooper & Sons | | | | even have arisen. Natural history collections should |
| The art of taxidermy today remains very much | | | | be regarded as 'scientific data in waiting'. After |
| alive, although gone are the days of every town | | | | nuclear devices were tested in the Pacific, there |
| having its own taxidermist. Today's exponents, | | | | was much concern about radioactive |
| however, still use the same basic techniques as | | | | contamination of the environment, especially of |
| their forbears. The oldest existing specimen is said | | | | resident plants and animals. But how could anyone |
| to be a rhinoceros dating from the 16th century, | | | | guess what were the levels in these organisms |
| but the collector is highly unlikely to come across | | | | before the tests? Specimens in collections |
| anything preserved before 1850. Along with the | | | | provided the answer. Other researchers needed |
| increased interest in antique fishing tackle, cased | | | | dated samples of earth for heavy metal analysis; |
| and mounted fish are now considered highly | | | | the only source they could find was the earth |
| collectable and although prices have dropped | | | | adhering to herbarium specimens. The effect of |
| slightly from the dizzy heights reached a few | | | | pesticides such as DDT on the thickness of the |
| years ago they are now starting to rise again. | | | | shells of eggs of birds of prey was only shown |
| The most sought after cases were produced by | | | | because of the existence of well-documented egg |
| John Cooper & Sons of Radnor Street, London. | | | | collections. With new techniques the DNA of |
| The company was started in the 1830's but most | | | | long-dead specimens can be sequenced, such as |
| of the `Cooper' cases around now date from the | | | | that from the Quagga (an extinct horse), from |
| 1870's to 1950. Most of the fish were displayed in | | | | Mammoth remains, and the DNA from a 20 |
| bowfront glass cases edged with gold line trim | | | | million-year old magnolia leaf. The chemistry of |
| and gilt lettering. Occasionally the details of the fish | | | | feathers has shown past levels of environmental |
| were written inside instead, presumably when | | | | mercury, and can also establish the probable |
| insufficient funds were available for the full works! | | | | origins of bird specimens. Current concern with |
| Even if no details exist it is still possible for an | | | | tri-butyl tin antifouling paint on boats required |
| expert to date the case as their style changed | | | | pre-1950 samples of the dogwhelk to study the |
| throughout the years. Early cases had pale blue | | | | long-term effects. Research at Manchester |
| backgrounds with an abundance of reeds and | | | | Museum has shown that the shell of the common |
| groundwork. By the 1950's this had progressed to | | | | winkle can be used to establish an accurate |
| a green backing with a sparse interior. The fish | | | | measure of some critical levels of radioactivity in |
| gradually became more heavily painted with every | | | | coastal waters. The work required dated and |
| scale accentuated. The trading label along with | | | | localised winkle shells from the past 50 years to |
| their address changed frequently and is another | | | | establish historical levels; these shells were |
| helpful factor in dating them accurately. Age is not | | | | provided from museum collections in the region. |
| a particular concern when it comes to value - | | | | The broad aspects of the study of evolution |
| more consideration is given to the size of fish for | | | | depend upon carefully assembled scientific |
| its species, the quality of the mounting and the | | | | collections for data, comparative analysis, and |
| overall aesthetic appearance. Multiple cases and | | | | verification. Classified museum specimens are |
| those with original gold lettering are worth a | | | | essential for studying the relationship between |
| premium. Fish taxidermy tended to be more | | | | different groups of animals, variation within a |
| specialised than other forms and as Cooper's | | | | single species and between the sexes, variation |
| fame grew fish were sent to them from all over | | | | with climate, latitude, and with isolation on islands, |
| the country and although they appeared to have | | | | character displacement, niche-variation |
| the monopoly other equally good firms were in | | | | hypotheses, and predator-prey relationships. This |
| business. One of these was W. F. Homer, also of | | | | last involves identifying dismembered and partly |
| London and although examples of their work may | | | | digested stomach contents, which cannot easily |
| be harder to find the search is usually well | | | | be done without reference collections to compare |
| rewarded as their cases are most attractive. | | | | the remains with. |
| Malloch of Perth also produced excellent | | | | The study of museum specimens can suggest |
| specimens, many of which were finely painted | | | | hypotheses which are later tested by field |
| plaster casts of trout and salmon often mounted | | | | observation, for example, crest and facial |
| in unique barrel shaped cases. They also produced | | | | markings of Stellar's Jays suggested an |
| many of the carved wood game fish earlier this | | | | hypothesis about communication which was then |
| century. | | | | tested and proved in the field. Alternatively field |
| If you are lucky enough to find an old case of | | | | observations often need museum specimen follow |
| fish, but in a damaged and sorry state - do not | | | | up, for example, the elucidation of sonic |
| despair! More can be done to restore these back | | | | communication in baleen whales required a study |
| to their former glory than any other form of | | | | of the anatomy of their larynx using museum |
| taxidermy and unlike many antiques, good quality | | | | specimens. Other studies include Felidae (cat |
| restoration will hardly detract from its value. A | | | | family) skulls used to study brain evolution in |
| number of auction houses now run specialist | | | | carnivores; mounted mammals used for |
| piscatorial sales. But beware, this can be shaky | | | | identifying casts of footprints from game and |
| ground for the uninitiated. Fakes abound and are | | | | nature reserves; a host-parasite study using |
| sometimes hard to distinguish from the genuine | | | | follicle-mites from pocket mouse specimens; |
| article even for the experts. Buying from a | | | | estimating litter-sizes from nipple number in small |
| reputable dealer will bring you peace of mind and | | | | marsupials. |
| is likely to be cheaper too. | | | | Archaeology and Ethnology |
| So what if you land your dream fish and decide | | | | Identification of bone, shell and insect fragments |
| to have it preserved for posterity? No problem, | | | | from archaeological burials and excavations, to |
| although these days it is normally only game or | | | | assist the correct interpretation of the site. |
| sea fish that are mounted. The most important | | | | Ethnologists also require bits and pieces of |
| thing to remember is NEVER gut the fish as this | | | | feather, fur, skin, bone, shells and botanical |
| will ruin the whole procedure. Wrap your catch in | | | | material such as gourds identified in human |
| plenty of newspaper, taking care not to damage | | | | artifacts. These identifications would be impossible |
| the fins and place in a freezer as soon as possible. | | | | without extensive reference collections. |
| Once frozen it can safely remain there for | | | | Historical studies |
| several months. Mounting your trophy can be a | | | | Collections can yield information of importance in |
| long process (fortunately giving you a breathing | | | | historical studies. The collecting data attached to |
| space to save up for the high cost!). The recent | | | | specimens collected during expeditions and |
| world record 1331b eel set up by us took around | | | | campaigns has assisted in fixing other historical |
| five months to complete. Much of this is drying | | | | events in sequence. The history of anatomical |
| time, depending on the size and oil content of the | | | | preservation, and of taxidermy, can only be |
| fish and speeding up this process will only produce | | | | studied using museum specimens. |
| a poor result in the long term. After defrosting, | | | | USE OF NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS BY |
| the fish is cut along the lateral line, skinned out | | | | SOCIETY |
| and cured with a preserving solution. Meanwhile a | | | | Education |
| false inside (a mannequin) is carved from | | | | The museum's medium is the object; the object |
| styrofoam to the exact shape of the original fish. | | | | is the museum's message (pace McLuhan). |
| The skin is then placed around this and left to dry | | | | Museum exhibits, lectures and publications in |
| with regular checks made to correct any oil | | | | natural history are popular, and fortunately they |
| seepage, a particular problem with salmon. When | | | | are also widely regarded as contributions to |
| completely dry the skin has to be painted as by | | | | society valuable enough to justify the costs of |
| this time it will have lost all its colour. This is the | | | | museums. Unfortunately the delivery system |
| really skilful part and sorts out the men from the | | | | (galleries and catalogues) attracts most of the |
| boys Dulux, in this instance, is not the right | | | | support, while the creative source of the goods |
| medium!) Several washes of colour are applied to | | | | delivered (curatorial research) receives small |
| make the fish look as realistic as possible. The | | | | encouragement. But without research only a |
| casing is a matter of personal choice and although | | | | partial and inaccurate interpretation of the |
| the fish may just be mounted on a wooden | | | | specimens is possible. Nowadays most museums |
| board it is not generally recommended. A | | | | fulfil the education role with reasonable success; |
| traditional setting in a bow fronted glass case | | | | ecological displays help explain the diversity of the |
| complete with gilt lettering is still the best method | | | | life forms that sustain us, show the major |
| and will become an antique of the future, not to | | | | patterns of geographic dispersal, and demonstrate |
| mention the pleasure gained of having a | | | | the interrelationships between organisms. Natural |
| permanent record of the big one that didn't get | | | | history specimens are used for school loan |
| away! | | | | services, and provide a range of specimens for |
| David McKinley | | | | identification in biology examinations at all levels. A |
| Today's perspective | | | | numeracy centre used shells borrowed from a |
| Today taxidermy in its broadest forms has | | | | museum to illustrate to disadvantaged adults how |
| undergone a welcome transformation. It is now | | | | the mathematics of spirals occur in nature. The |
| traded globally with collectors seeking historical | | | | tent markings on venerid bivalves and olive and |
| pieces from Europe North America, South Africa | | | | volute shells have been used in an artificial |
| and Australia. Demand appears to be exceeding | | | | intelligence study. |
| supply currently pushing prices ever higher. | | | | Law Enforcement |
| Internet services and of course EBay have of | | | | 'Aiding the police in their enquiries', museum |
| course broaden both the availability and appeal. | | | | reference collections can identify hair as human or |
| Items by both modern day taxidermy exponents | | | | non-human, can tell the age and race of an |
| such as Mike Gadd and AJ Armitstead and the | | | | unearthed human skull, accurately identify hairs as |
| most famous Victorian firms now fetch | | | | evidence in prosecutions over badger hunting, and |
| thousands of pounds at auction. | | | | identify pollen grains or grass fragments for |
| The law has also caught up and rightly so with | | | | 'scene of crime' forensics, all of which can only be |
| this trade. There are restrictions on the sale and | | | | done with the authority of a reference collection. |
| trade of endangered species. The US and the UK, | | | | Collections also help customs officers keep our |
| in my opinion have the most comprehensive sets | | | | green and pleasant land unsullied by illegal animal |
| of taxidermy legislation currently in force. Again | | | | and plant imports: powdered keratin from rhino |
| these can be researched easily and | | | | horn, horn or ivory objects, or pelts and leathers - |
| comprehensively on the internet. | | | | often as made up goods. Sometimes only a tuft |
| My suggestion to those who are seeking to begin | | | | of feather or hair, or a small piece of skin is |
| to collect taxidermy is firstly: | | | | available, and without considerable expertise |
| - To understand the laws governing the | | | | backed by extensive reference collections the |
| taxidermy trade | | | | task of positive identification would be impossible. |
| - Seek out good exponents of the art form | | | | The public is usually quite unaware of this activity. |
| - Make sure that the Victorian items purchased | | | | Without it, the legislators could legislate about the |
| are no infected with insects | | | | control of export or import of animals and plants |
| - Research both taxidermy dealers and taxidermy | | | | until they were blue in the face - but to little |
| collectors on the internet and when confident go | | | | effect. |
| to specialist auction, eBay and purchase from | | | | Medicine and Health |
| private collectors | | | | Another success story for natural history |
| Wild Birds and the Law | | | | collections: environmental health officers with their |
| The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Part 1 | | | | mangled, cooked or partially digested animal |
| Definition of a wild bird, and Game Birds | | | | remains - a snail in a can of peas, a slug in |
| Shooting seasons | | | | raspberry jam, or the cat bones in a tandoori |
| Basic protection | | | | curry - all need careful identification plus expert |
| Sale of live birds | | | | opinion upon where the 'foreign body' entered the |
| Sale of dead birds | | | | process, often with legal proceedings pending; |
| Exhibitions | | | | usually such identifications can only be done using |
| Killing and taking birds | | | | reference collections. These officers also rely |
| Birds in captivity | | | | heavily on their local museums for help identifying |
| Attempting to commit an offence | | | | infestations. A large reference collection is needed |
| Egg Collections | | | | to assist the rapid identification of accidentally |
| Licences | | | | ingested toxic plant material, to enable the medical |
| Falconry | | | | team involved to apply the appropriate, |
| Fines & penalties | | | | sometimes life-saving, treatment. |
| Schedules (lists of birds) | | | | A dental professor, studying cleft palate in |
| Definition of a wild bird | | | | humans, made considerable use of crocodile skulls. |
| The definition of a 'wild bird' in Section 27 of the | | | | Another dental researcher used samples from the |
| Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 changed in | | | | legs of dated water bird specimens in studying |
| 2004. A new Statutory Instrument (SI 2004 No. | | | | historical levels of fluoride. Near-Eastern hamster |
| 1487) which came into force on 14 July 2004 | | | | specimens were used in a medical study on |
| means that a 'wild bird' as defined by the Act is | | | | toxoplasmosis. In America mammal collections |
| now any species which is ordinarily resident in or is | | | | have yielded information on Chaga's disease and |
| a visitor to 'the European Territory of any | | | | haemorrhagic fever. The control of other diseases |
| Member State' (of the EU). Previously, 'wild bird' | | | | - bilharzia, bubonic plague, schistosomiasis, malaria |
| only referred to birds which occurred in Great | | | | and river blindness - all depend on very precise |
| Britain. This brings the WCA in line with the EC | | | | identification of the animals transmitting the |
| Birds Directive and makes it illegal to be in | | | | disease, using reference collections. Psychiatrists |
| possession in the UK of any eggs or birds of any | | | | regularly use specimens of birds, bees, butterflies, |
| species taken from the wild in another Member | | | | small mammals and so on from museums for the |
| State. | | | | treatment of phobias; by controlled gradual |
| Poultry or Game birds (see lists below) however | | | | increased exposure to the specimens, patients |
| are not included in the Wildlife and Countryside | | | | learn to control their irrational fear of the living |
| Act. A bird is only classed as bred in captivity if | | | | animals. |
| both parents were in lawful captivity when the | | | | Commerce |
| egg was laid. Game is covered by the Game Acts | | | | Advertising agencies and television companies |
| which fully protect them during the close season. | | | | borrow material for use in the background of |
| Basic Protection | | | | 'shots',and, as mentioned above, most of the |
| All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by | | | | highly popular colour-plate nature books are |
| law and it is thus an offence, with certain | | | | almost entirely illustrated using museum |
| exceptions (see below) intentionally to: | | | | specimens. Another unusual commercial use of |
| Kill, injure or take any wild bird. | | | | the biological collection was illustrated by the |
| Take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild | | | | college of textiles students who used shells as |
| bird while it is in use or being built. (see time for | | | | inspiration for designing a cloth, which won a prize. |
| cutting hedges) | | | | Then there were the industrial design students |
| Take or destroy the egg of any wild bird. | | | | who used armadillo skeletons as the inspiration for |
| Have in one's possession or control any wild bird | | | | 'comfort chairs', and the top yacht designer who |
| (dead or alive) or any part of a wild bird which | | | | spent much time studying tunnyfish specimens as |
| has been taken in contravention of the Act or the | | | | an aid to designing faster yachts. The next |
| Protection of Birds Act 1954. | | | | generation of airliners will have less drag because |
| Have in one's possession or control any egg or | | | | the designers studied preserved shark skin, and |
| part of an egg which has been taken in | | | | have copied the surface structure that makes the |
| contravention to the Act. This includes items | | | | shark such an efficient swimmer. A lecturer in a |
| taken or killed before the passing of the Act. | | | | university engineering department routinely |
| Have in one's possession or control any live bird | | | | instructs students who need to solve a novel |
| of prey of any species in the world (with the | | | | engineering problem to go and find an animal |
| exception of vultures and condors) unless it is | | | | which has already solved it; the museum collection |
| registered and ringed in accordance with the | | | | often provides the answer. Isambard Kingdom |
| Secretary of State's regulations. | | | | Brunel is said to have gained inspiration for |
| Have in one's possession or control any bird of a | | | | designing the tunnelling shield from examining |
| species occurring on Schedule 4 of the Act unless | | | | museum specimens of the shipworm Teredo. |
| registered (and in some cases ringed) in | | | | Following planes hitting birds, airlines have required |
| accordance with the Secretary of State's | | | | feather fragments from aeroengines identified by |
| regulations. | | | | museums to determine the species responsible. |
| Disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is | | | | Herbarium specimens are used in researching new |
| nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or | | | | fragrances, and in the search for new drugs. |
| young, or disturb the dependent young of such a | | | | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| bird. | | | | Crop pests can be studied in part by examining |
| Sale of Live Wild Birds and Their Eggs | | | | pest-damaged material in herbaria (galls, etc); |
| Unless appropriately licensed it is an offence to | | | | potential control organisms for weeds can be |
| sell, offer for sale, possess or transport for sale | | | | identified by studying 'habitat' details of insects as |
| or exchange: | | | | recorded on museum labels. The prickly pear |
| Any live bird unless listed on Schedule 3, Part I | | | | invasion in Australia was successfully controlled |
| and then only if aviary bred and close ringed with | | | | following a study of this kind. Insect pests, and |
| an approved ring as defined by the Secretary of | | | | suspicious weeds and seeds, all need the collection |
| State's regulations. The egg of any wild bird | | | | for reliable identification. Otolith (ear-stone) |
| (whether or not taken in contravention of the | | | | collections give information on the historical age |
| Act). | | | | distribution of populations of fish and whales, and |
| Sale of Dead Wild Birds | | | | the results can demonstrate whether the stocks |
| Unless appropriately licensed it is an offence to | | | | are declining. |
| sell, offer, possess or transport for sale or hire | | | | Acknowledgement |
| any dead wild birds (or skin or part of such a bird) | | | | Every point made in this article is backed by a |
| other than a bird on Schedule 3, Part II or lll unless | | | | published reference or personal knowledge; over |
| the vendor has been registered and the bird | | | | 150 relevant papers and reports, all published in |
| marked in accordance with regulations laid down | | | | the last fifteen years, have been abstracted while |
| by the Secretary of State. | | | | preparing the article, and much useful information |
| Birds listed on Schedule 3, Part II may be sold | | | | has been provided by colleagues in the Biology |
| dead at all times, those on Schedule 3, Part III | | | | Curators Group. |
| may only be sold dead from 1 September until 28 | | | | |