250 TAXIDERMY AND ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTING. 



F. A. Lucas, and displayed at the exhibition of the S. A. T., in 

 New York, in 1883, where it received a medal, and afterward was 

 presented by him to the National Museum. This altogether 

 unique and pretty group teaches one very important lesson, 

 viz., that even the most commonplace animals are interesting 

 when they are well mounted, and grouped with a setting which 

 represents their natural haunts. Some of the specimens in this 

 group are represented above water, and some beneath it, while 

 one enterprising- individual is caught in the act of diving, with 

 part of his body under water and the other half out. The situ- 

 ation represents the successful accomplishment of a very neat 

 mechanical feat, and is of itself an illustration of the possibili- 

 ties in such matters. 



After the quadrupeds of North America have been gathered 

 and grouped until there, remain in that direction no more 

 worlds to conquer, it will be quite in order for our enterprising 

 taxidermists then to proceed to the mounting of groups of 

 reptiles. 



There are possibilities with such subjects as the crocodiles, 

 iguanas, lizards of various kinds, serpents, and turtles that few 

 dream of. Already Professor Goode has under consideration 

 the production of a series of reptilian groups for the National 

 Museum, and within a short time the work will be undertaken. 



