A SPECIMEN OF PROVINCIAL TAXIDERMY 179 



most reckless manner, and without the slightest 

 regard to their suitability, so long as the case 

 is made to look smart. Not long ago a friend 

 of mine asked my opinion regarding a large trout 

 of some nine or ten pounds weight which had 

 been preserved and mounted by a provincial bird- 

 stuffer, who had, moreover, charged between two 

 and three guineas for his work. I had seen many 

 of his productions, all of them being remarkable 

 for their unnatural and vulgar appearance ; but 

 this effort crowned them all. Not only was the 

 fish literally stuffed well-nigh to bursting-point, 

 but the tow used for the purpose almost protruded 

 from its open mouth. Large splashes of light- 

 red paint had been literally smeared over the 

 entire body from head to tail, and, to complete 

 the illusion, a profusion of dyed ^lpland grasses 

 were artistically arranged in various parts of the 

 case, amongst them what is known as quaking- 

 grass being especially conspicuous. What could 

 I say ? I thought it better to be truthful, and 

 so suggested to my friend that the sooner he 

 sent it to a more competent artist the better, 

 adding that in the meantime it might with 

 advantage be turned with its face towards the 

 wall. 



There are, of course, some really good taxider- 

 mists in our country towns, men whose work can 

 vie with the best in the trade. Amongst these, 

 few are able to compete with Mr. Cullingford, 

 curator of the Durham University Museum, 



