IV HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. 



likewise cherished a love for the preservation of the objects of 

 animated nature, and in their lowly chambers may often be found 

 specimens of taxidermic handiwork of great beauty and rarity. In a 

 large number of instances our art has found patronage by those whose 

 humble names have become immortal. Highland Mary, the idol of 

 Burns, the greatest lyrical poet that ever lived, died in a room contain- 

 ing, among other simple decorations, three or four stuffed birds. We 

 might recall manv significant instances of individuals whose love for 

 objects from the fields of nature, through modest personal efforts estab- 

 lished a nucleus which formed the basis of some of the great museums 

 of the world. The existing literature on the subject of taxidermy 

 which has been published from time to time throws considerable light 

 upon its rise and progress.' 



So far as my investigation goes, I have not been able to trace any 

 writings on the subject of taxidermy farther back than two hundred 

 years.' The oldest work in my collection is a Natural History pub- 

 lished at Paris by the Royal Academy in 1687, on the dissection of 

 various animals. In this work mention is made of the fact that the 

 Hollanders were the first to bring into Europe live specimens and skins 

 of the cassowary and a number of other strange birds which they 

 secured on their first voyages (lolT) to the Indian archipelago. These 

 were stuffed at Amsterdam. 



Reaumur in 1748 published a memoir of the method of preserving 

 skins of birds to be sent into distant countries. He received birds 

 from all parts in spirits of wine, according to the instructions he had 

 given, and formed a beautiful cabinet of natural historv in his own 

 house which, after his death, became the basis of the collection of birds 

 in the Museum of Paris. 



In 1752 M. B. vStollas issued at Paris a work entitled "Instruc- 

 tions on the Manner of Preparing Objects of Natural History." The 

 work contains five full-page illustrations. Some of the most ingenious 

 devices for the mounting of birds and quadrupeds are given in this 

 work. Why his methods were not more universally adopted by those 

 immediately following him is difficult to understand. The same year 

 appeared H. L. Duhamel's work of a similar title. E. F. Turgot 

 appears to be the author of an anonymous work on taxidermy, which 

 was issued at Lyons in 1758. The methods of skinning and mount- 

 ing birds and small quadrupeds, described and illustrated in this 



1. In preparing this historical sketch I have depended almost entirely upon the data found in the books 

 and pamphlets relating to taxidermy in my own collection, numbering 110 titles. 



2. In Mr. L. M. McCormick's valuable " Bibliography of Taxidermy," published in the third annual repor 

 of the Society of American Taxidermists, the oldest writing mentioned is dated 1G8H. 



