SCIENTIFIC TAXIDERMY FOR MUSEUMS. 373 



tlie early histories of other arts and sciences. Photography and chem- 

 istry are excellent instances of it. During the times to which I refer, 

 taxidermists both in this country and Europe, with but rare excep- 

 tions, could be grouped in two classes — the first, and by far the most 

 numerous, was chiefly represented by men coming from the lower 

 planes of society, who endeavored to throw as much mystery about 

 their operations as possible; in fact, to keep their art a secret one, and 

 if divulged at all. only done so at a high figure. The second class, as 

 a rule better men socially, consisted of those who seemed to think that 

 to either be a taxidermist or even to publish anything on the subject, 

 required an humble apology to society. My private library contains 

 works illustrative of both these classes. The first is a miserable little 

 volume of some thirty pages published by its author, Mr. S. H. Sylves- 

 ter, at Middleboro, Mass., in 1865, and entitled "The Taxidermist's 

 Manual, giving full instructions in mounting and preservinglnrds [etc.], 

 sec. ed. (Price, $1.)." Apart from the ridiculous meagreness of the 

 information it affords, a single leading page is entirely devoted to the 

 following "suggestion: " 



As common things lose their charm, so is it more particularly in this art. A person 

 having this work should not leave it exposed to the eyes of the curious. The same 

 caution should he used in the practice. Work by yourself that none may know the 

 mysteries of the art, unless they are willing to pay for the information as you your- 

 self have done. 



NO less a book than the one published by Capt. Brown illustrates 

 the second class to which we have referred.* In his preface this author 

 remarks that — 



In the following treatise it has been my object to attend more to rendering the 

 meaning clear than to elegance of language; and, besides, to get the work up in a 

 style at once creditable and moderate in price, so that it might he generally useful. 

 At the same time I have preferred avowing myself the author to publishing the work 

 anonymously, being firmly of opinion that no man should publish on a subject which 

 he is ashamed to acknowledge, (p. VI.) 



Such a "suggestion" as has been given us by Mr. Sylvester will 

 never again appear upon the page of any standard work devoted to 

 the art of taxidermy and published by a civilized nation anymore than 

 ('apt. Brown's thought of apologizing for the admirable little treatise 

 which he has given us on the subject will ever be repeated in a similar 

 work. Capt. Brown had the less to be u ashamed'' of in his book, for 

 in his introduction he places himself upon the record by his observa- 

 tions as being one of the very first to sound the keynote, which, swell 

 ing through the last quarter of a century, has had its due influence in 

 lifting taxidermy from the realm of an ignoble pursuit to the broad 



*Thomas Brown (Capt.), F. L. S.. late president of the Royal Physical Society, 

 etc. The Taxidermist's Manual; or. The Art of Collecting, Preparing, and Preserv- 

 ing Objects of Natural History, designed for the use of Travelers, Conservators of 

 Museums, and Private Collectors. London and Edinburgh, 1870, | Plates vi. pp. 150.) 



