| Taxidermy, from the Greek for "arrangement of the | | | | The practice of taxidermy is generally limited to |
| skin", is essentially the art of mounting and reproducing | | | | animals with backbones because the starting point of |
| dead animals for display purposes. It is a controversial | | | | any taxidermist's process relies on having a solid line to |
| element of life that has long been popular, but with | | | | work with, such as the backbone. There have been |
| new philosophies springing forth out of new | | | | instances, however, in which effective taxidermy has |
| movements, taxidermy may be experiencing a | | | | taken place involving insects or other smaller animals. |
| significant decline. Some taxidermists actually arrange | | | | These instances are very rare, though, and many |
| deceased animals for study, such as in museums or | | | | taxidermists refuse to work with such small animals |
| science labs, but for the most part the industry | | | | because of the complications involved. |
| functions on home sales and home display items. | | | | |