April, 1886. ] 

AND OOLOGIST. 63 


and moths; but few have tried to trap Coleopte- 
ra. All the scavengers, the stag, and many 
Lamelicornes, weevils, and in fact, nearly every 
family of this order can be trapped; but it pays 
only in certain cases. 
It is easy to trap the scavengers, for the body 
of a dead rat, bird or snake, wil] bring you 
species, and if you desire to rear the larve your 
trap will be of great value. Some years ago I 
wished to observe the changes of the Necrophorus 
and with the aid of an old tin pail which I buried 
until the top was on a level with the ground, 
filled with earth and baited with a dead rat, I se- 
cured enough material for a very interesting 
series of observations. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 


War Against Taxidermists. 
Editor ORNITHOLOGIsT AND OdLOGIST—Sir: A special 
crusade seems to have been inaugurated against taxider- 
mists, under the auspices of that wonderful, high toned 
menagerie known as the Massachusetts Fish and Game Pro- 
tective (?) Association, at their late annual love feast at the 
Parker House. During the session, (at which none who 
bait the hook with a worm or use a gun that kills at less 
than seventy-five yards were invited), the ball was set in 
motion by a speech “which we presume the committee con- 
sidered would just be worth the expense of one plate.” 
What ascene! What must it have been to be there! Im- 
agine the high glee with which the encore was given. How 
the rotund form of the president shook under the joke, (as 
have many a taxidermist while reading his wonderful 
“Birds of New England”), but enough, no doubt as they 
parted they passed a mutual congratulation that they had at 
last struck a case that they “thought they” had backbone 
enough to prosecute. 
The scene changes, we enter the State House; as we 
pause to gaze at the mementos of Massachusetts’ great men 
of the past we feel our veins fill, and a thrill of admiration 
prevail. Alas how short is its duration. We pass toacom- 
mittee room to attend a special hearing before a committee 
of the legislature. The room is over-crowded, all interested 
upon the subject of game, including taxidermists, are 
present. The society of ‘‘P. of C. to A.,” who want their 
code vaccinated into the youth at the public school, the 
representative of the farmers’ boy who wants to snare 
Grouse, the club sportsman who wants to fix the whole 
business to swit himself, and the game dealers who wish to 
sell game during part of the close season. The meeting now 
opens, which is also the signal for the opening of the flood 
gates. Volley after volley is spouted in rapid succession at 
the taxidermist and naturalist. By common consent they 
seem chosen the scape goat. Mr. W. W. Castle defended 
the taxidermists from purely an act of justice, and was at 
once pounced upon in a manner that reminds us of the 
antics of a drove of Mexican Peccaries. 
One Lathrop, cf Springfield, fairly danced as he flatly 
stated that he was present to declare war on taxidermists. In 
his rambling tirade, which it would be a waste of space to 
repeat, he made the following remarkable statements: 
“That the science of ornithology had reached perfection years 
ago in this section, and that there was nothing new to learn.” 
Ye Gods! Laugh not at this, rather pity. ‘‘That he knew a 
taxidermist who would pay two dollars for every skin of the 


Scarlet Tanayer he could get, and that Orioles were worth 
more.” Will any one who reads this, with the fact that 
Tanager skins have been listed at 60 to 75 cents and Orioles 
at 30 to 50 cents by dealers for the last five years, take stock ? 
Not much. We want to know who that taxidermist is. 
This valiant knight closed his harangue by accusing taxid- 
ermists of trapping Bobolinks. Great Heavens! Does he 
take us for “‘figure four traps?” 
In his excitement he said that he would give two dollars 
for the skin of a taxidermist. This, we are informed, he 
claimed to be a “slip of the tongue”—better call it all a land 
slide. We will venture to say to this mighty warrior that 
more birds were sold to his constituents at Springfield dur- 
ing the past season by milliners than were taken by all the 
regular taxidermists in the State. He make war on the tax- 
idermists! The laugh at his lingo will exceed by far 
his Apache war whoop. Let the Massachusetts naturalists 
use their opera glasses and study this exterminator. Per- 
haps they can trace its origin back to the good old days of 
witchcraft, (he did not suggest burning Taxidermists). A 
gentleman present stated that he had not seen birds in his 
back yard for some time, and thought they had all been 
killed. Who did it? Of course the taxidermists. The 
hats of the lady reporters present did not seem to suggest 
that at least taxidermists were not consumers. 
Mr. Shumway, of Plymouth, stated that the taxidermists, 
interest was so small (capital vs. labor) that it was not 
worth the committee’s while to bother with them. Indeed! 
We think the Knights of Labor will meet him some day if 
he sticks to that text. With gentle mein and down cast eye 
“a lady present said, that last winter the preference of the 
millinery fashion had been for Massachusetts birds,” and 
immediately said lady devoted the rest of her attention to 
reporting her neat little speech, to the exclusion of what 
was said in defense of taxidermists. (See Boston papers 
March 2d.) 
As we passed out we paused once more before the marble 
figures of the great and just, to see if they had not turned 
away their faces. Now, what does this mean? Why assail 
the taxidermists and naturalists, you who declare war. 
Visit the taxidermist, examine his stock, and then Call on 
any one of the great millinery houses, that out-number by 
far the taxidermists, and you may be able to discriminate. 
Is it the taxidermist that created the fashion of hat decora- 
tions with birds and feathers? Is it the taxidermist that 
compels your wives and daughters to wear them? <Are you 
too henpecked to say ‘boo” about it at home, and think it 
easier to fight the taxidermist than object to the Paris 
fashion ? 
We divide you who cry down the naturalist and taxider- 
mist into two classes, the ignorant and the malicious. To 
the former we are ready to define our position, to the latter 
we defy you, and are ready to meet you as you appoint. As 
naturalists and taxidermists, we do not favor, nor are we in 
sympathy with the millinery trade, or wanton destruction of 
bird life. We are ready to assist in protection—and protest 
against false charges, and insist upon an open season, with 
proper limitation, with as much ground as the sportsman. 
The second hearing before the committee was more pleas- 
ing to taxidermists—other targets being used—from its 
chaos our reporter returned the following—it makes us 
smile—resolutions and suggestions offered to the committee 
on fish and game at the Hub: 
ScENE Ist.—Game Dealer—‘There are no Deer or Pinneated 
Grouse in Massachusetts.” ’ ; 
F. and G. “p.” A.—“Bueks may be shot, Does not.” 
Rev. Lr. B., (critic) —*Sex must be plainly marked ; in quick 
sight shots, mistakes might occur.” 
Taxidermists (advice)—Refer this to ‘‘new” Inland Fish 
Commissioner Lathrop. 
