20 Allen, An Essex County Ornithologist. |_Jan. 



drawing. His sketches of birds and mammals gave indication 

 that the boy was a good observer with unusual artistic ability. 

 His father was a taxidermist on a small scale and from him Benja- 

 min gained his inspiration for collecting and mounting specimens. 

 His first attempt to stuff a bird seems to have been at the age of 

 twelve years. 



"Both parents died in 1SG6, the home was broken up, and the 

 boy went to a farm to live. Here among the hills where Massa- 

 chusetts joins New Hampshire, Mr. Damsell started his collection 

 and began the study of ornithology. Among his first books on the 

 general subject of bird-lore was Cassell's 'Book of Birds.' While 

 at the farm his outings took the form of tramps through the woods, 

 for the purpose of studying the birds and adding to his collection. 

 His early advantages were few, but his natural ability, his love for 

 the subject, and his determination to do good work knew no 

 obstacles. In his early days in taxidermy, he bought stuffed 

 specimens and took them apart to study the methods of those who 

 were considered expert. While yet a fanner's boy his pencil 

 sketches of birds and squirrels were replaced by successful efforts 

 at oil painting. 



"Tiring of the limitations of farm life he learned the carriage 

 builder's trade. In 18S1 he married Miss Emma F. Day, of Ames- 

 bury, and continued to reside in his native town. 



" For years he reserved Saturdays for hunting trips. Oftentimes 

 when business was dull a large portion of his time was given to 

 taxidermy and painting. All his work seemed to combine the 

 skill of the mechanic with the touch of the artist. He bought the 

 best books, studied the best methods, with the result that his 

 knowledge of birds was comprehensive and exact. 



" Most of his hunting was done in the vicinity of Amesbury and 

 on the great meadows of Salisbury and of Hampton, X. H. For 

 forty years he continued to study, collect, and mount specimens. 

 His collection was reasonably complete in those birds that frequent 

 northeastern Massachusetts and his notes were kept until within 

 a few weeks of his death. He was well known as a taxidermist 

 in the nearby towns of Xewbtiryport, Haverhill, Hampton, and 

 Exeter. 



"After an illness 01 several months he passed away June 8, 1911. 



