BBAL ON MICHIGAN COAT OF ARMS. 



23 



gan, as used iu 1870 or thereabouts was much more like the original de- 

 sign than the one used at present. 



In the legislative manual for 1885 and for several years after there is 

 apparentlv a copy of the state seal as now used. Near the margin are 

 the letters, "Great seal of the state of Michigan, A. D. MDCOCXXXY." 



The eagle is slightly changed from the one last described, this one hav- 

 ing on the head two slight horns pointing backward. Altogether, when 

 carefully viewed with a lens, it is a very clumsy bird. The man on the 

 peninsula has again changed his clothes, the bayonet has been removed 

 from the gun. The elk is very good, having very little indication of long 

 hair about the neck. The moose has a rather broader nose, the hair on 

 the neck and shoulders is quite long and wavy. Except the shield, the 



eagle, moose and elk and the strips containing the mottoes, the ground 

 work is all plain, consisting of fine parallel lines. 



I have by no means exhausted the deviations from the original drawing 

 at first described, but have shown that no two of them are alike in some 

 rather important particulars. It seems as though the engraver of each 

 new plate for a state coat of arms or state seal had tried to exhibit some 

 originality in his work as others have in making innumerable representa- 

 tions, of Uncle Sam. 



Perhaps it makes little difference how many styles we have — we live in 

 an age of fashion — but some day, I doubt not, some careful person will 

 revise the figures of our state seal and we shall have an improvement on 

 any yet made. There could certainly be nothinng to criticise, were the 

 drawings good and true to life of a perfect eagle, a handsome elk, and a 

 will-proportioned moose. In case no one else undertake the job, it would 

 not be a bad scheme for this society in its printed transactions to have a 

 design made which should be a credit to its members by exhibiting the 

 eagle, the elk, and the moose as well-developed animals, all in graceful 

 positions. 



