SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. 73 
should consist of casts, photographs, pictures, books and me- 
chanical appliances, including facilities for making dissections. 
The models of the figure-painter pose for him, those of the 
animalier never do. ‘Therefore, more than any other artist, he 
must work from knowledge of his subject. Obviously then, a 
thorough knowledge of its form and anatomy is essential. Nor 
is this mere theory. Barye, Landseer, Bonheur, Fremiet, Geri- 
cault, Swan, Riviere—indeed, every successful animalier that 
ever has been, was an earnest student of anatomy. 
Casts.—There are numbers of anatomical casts in the market, 
but the best are the private property of such institutions as the 
Beaux Arts and the Galerie d’ Anatomie Comparée at Paris. 
These are almost beyond the reach of the student, though no 
doubt copies would readily be furnished to an important corpora- 
tion making proper application. 
Some of the most valuable material consists of careful casts 
from freshly-killed animals. These cannot often be made in the 
wilderness, for obvious reasons. Practically there is only one 
place where they can be made, and that is the menagerie, where 
expert assistance and the best appliances are available. Of casts 
from statuary it will be quite easy to form a valuable collection at 
slight expense as soon asa place is prepared for their reception. 
SKELETONS.—Fremiet voiced the sentiments of the zoological 
art world when he said to me, ‘‘ The most important thing about 
an animal is its skeleton.’’ A collection of available typical 
skeletons alone would attract a crowd of earnest students; but 
they must be avaz/adle ; and that does not mean in glass cases, 
or a mile away—but handleable, measurable, and at hand. Of 
course, this means breakage and loss in course of time; but what 
are they forif not to be used ? 
Ski1ns.—In the practical working of my own school I found a 
few good skins very valuable. We must remember that color is 
a comparative term. An object is one color in one light or 
setting, and another in a different one. No one can foretell 
what it will become under the next change, and yet all have an 
instinctive knowledge whether it be right or wrong. The only 
way to learn the proper effect is to have a skin to place in the de- 
sired light. 
