The first of these to be built was the muskrat group, which still stands as good as new.
第一个威斯康星皮毛动物标本是麝鼠，如今还依旧如新。
From Milwaukee, Akeley went to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.
从密尔沃基，阿克利来到了芝加哥菲尔德自然史博物馆。
In 1896, under the direction of this museum, he made his first expedition to Africa.
1896年，在该博物馆的指导下，阿克利第一次前往非洲。
While studying the wild life in this part of the world,
在非洲研究野生动物时，
Akeley made up his mind to try the giant task of bringing Africa to America,
他下决定完成一项艰巨任务，那就是将非洲带入美国，
not the animals alone, but the animals in their natural surroundings.
不仅仅是动物，还有动物生活的野外环境。
After returning from Africa, Akeley worked steadily for nine years as chief of the department of taxidermy of the Field Museum,
从非洲回来以后，阿克利在菲尔德博物馆的标本部门当了九年主任，
mounting the animals which he had collected and at the same time improving his new method of taxidermy.
将收集的动物制作成标本，同时提高他的制作工艺。
To do taxidermy by the Akeley method, one must know the animals in their native surroundings;
要想通过阿克利的方法制作标本，一定要先了解动物生存的环境；
he must be able to collect his own specimens; he must know animal structure;
一定能自己收集标本，熟悉动物结构；
and he must be a sculptor, for the animal must be modeled in clay.
而且一定还是个雕塑师，因为动物模型是用泥土固定的。
Then he must have enough artistic sense to make his group pleasing as well as accurate.
而且还需要有艺术感，要让标本既准确又好看。
The first step in the Akeley method of taxidermy is to make a life-size model of the animal to be mounted.
阿克利标本制作的第一步是制作一比一比例模型。
In order to be sure that the model is accurate, it is checked by measurements made in the field before the animal was skinned,
为了让模型更加准确，在给动物剥皮之前要进行实地测量，
by photographs of the animal, and by trying on the skin itself.
要给动物拍照片，将皮毛试穿到动物身上。
The second step is to take a plaster mold of the clay model.
第二步是制作石膏模。
This mold is often cast in sections and is used in constructing the manikin, or framework, upon which the skin is mounted.
石膏模通常分为几部分制作，是用来制作动物皮毛内部的模型或支架。
Each section of the mold is lined with glue, over which is laid a sheet of muslin.
每一块石膏模需要用胶水连接，上面再铺一层平纹细布。
