Ut The West American Sctentist. 
“NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS.” 
(Editorial from the Cosmopolitan, December, 1882.) 
Before those famous taxidermists and hunters, the Verraux Freres, 
established themselves in Paris, natural history museums were compelled 
to rely upon picking up their specimens in all parts of the world. The 
keen intelligence of the Verraux Bros. was not long in discovering a 
imeans of serving the cause of science and of advancing their own fortunes 
atthe same time. They established a sort of clearing-house for wild 
beasts, birds, fishes, and reptiles, with branches in every quarter of the 
globe, and from whom you could order a stuffed elephant, giraffe, a Ben- 
gal tiger as you would flitch a bacon from your butcher, or a boiled lob- 
ster from the fish-monger. 
While the Verraux Freres were gaining a world-wide reputation, an 
American lad, William H. Winkley by name, was pursuing his studies 
at the famous technical schools of the French capital,.and, when his 
means were all but exhausted, he left his lodgings in the Latin quarter 
and apprenticed himself under these famous masters. After serving a 
long and laborious apprenticeship in the study of animal forms, anatomy, 
and drawing, he considered himself sufficiently equipped for the practical 
work of his vocation Returning to America, and selecting a small in- 
terior town where rents and living expenses were light, he set up anes- 
tablishment of his own, as large as his limited means would allow. 
To-day, he supplies the largest museums of the world with stuffed 
specimens from the elephant down to the smallest rodent, besides large 
quantities of minerals, rocks, fossils, casts of fossils, skins, and skeletons 
(unmounted) of animals of all classes, and often the wild animals them- 
selves, alcoholic specimens, insects, crustaceans, shells, echmoderms, 
corals, sponges, and botanical specimens, from every quarter of the globe 
and in a great variety of form and price. Also anatomical preparations, 
chemical, philosophical and optical instruments, with Naturalists’ sup- 
plies of every description, and, the Verraux Freres being now dead, he 
has established, as they did, stations upon every continent for the col- 
lection of natural history specimens. The attaches of all the stations are 
over 100 in number, many of whom are specialists. 
At his American headquarters at Clearfield, Iowa, there are not far 
from 100,000 specimens of all classes. Besides mounting the skins sent 
in by his own collectors, this eminently successful taxidermist takes cus- 
tom work in his department from those desiring the same, and many 
hundreds of persons and museums throughout the civilized world are 
constantly sending him mammal and bird skins and skeletons for restor- 
ation. Especially is this true of those scientific persons and wealthy in- 
dividuals, who, while abroad, have shown prowess in the hunt. 
But it is not alone in taxidermy that this cosmopolitan naturalist has 
won an unrivalled reputation. Years ago he devised a plan whereby 
even those of moderate means could possess a good cabinet. This, the 
installment plan, has from the start been a success, and in hundreds upon 
hundreds of cases has proven itself an inestimable boon to those of 
moderate means who desire a good collection. Many of the best col- 
lections in this country have been obtained entirely upon this plan and 
students, professional men, schools and colleges have all expressed 
themselves perfectly satisfied with its workings in their respective cases. 
Prof. Winkley is strictly honest and reliable, and ifany of our readers 
want anything in his line (see advertisement elsewhere,) we would re- 
commend them to write to him. 
This unsolicited editorial was written more than seven years ago. In the interim 
we have grown considerably, and to-day stand at the head of the museum furnishing busi- 
ness in the world. We are the only house outside of Paris, that sells collections on in- 
stallments. Do you want to secure a good collection on easy terms? Ifso, write to us. 
W. H. WINKLEY, Clearfield, lowa. 
az Persons haying private collections that they wish to dispose of, would do well to 
send lists to us. 
