Notes and Comments. 115 



V. TAXIDERMISTS. 



Our correspondent says, ' It is well known, and has been 

 a sore point for many years, the lack of protection in the trade ; 

 anyone with only the crudest ideas of anatomy and general 

 effect, could ' set up ' for himself in a back room, generally 

 without capital, and turn out goods at a small charge, because 

 his materials were rubbish and his knowledge the same. This 

 takes with a large section of the public who wish work done 

 for the lowest amount, irrespective of getting value for money ; 

 and doubly fostered by the popular belief that stuflers are 

 perfect ' Shylocks ' in their charges, and the undoubted fact 

 that, at sales, ' stuffed ' birds, no matter how mounted, are in 

 little demand, and only fetch a fraction of their original cost. 

 Thus, in time, these examples gravitate to local museums as 

 an emporium for goods unsaleable* ; hence the oddity of finish 

 and size of case so apparent when a crowd of them is so 

 gathered together. Many of our rarest birds and museum 

 specimens were mounted at a time when Taxidermy was in 

 its infancy, and the demand by the then owner (who never 

 studied the ethics of surroundings) for something showy, all 

 helped to produce what, in the aggregate, we now with more 

 cultured eyes look upon with pity.' 



THE SIZE OF CASES. 



' The different sizes of cases is a foregone conclusion, as 

 their occupants vary in size — and so did the original owners' 

 pockets when ordering ; if all in ' the trade ' had only been 

 given carte blanche, a different tale would t now be told. 

 Glazing varies according to individual styles, each tradesman 

 adopting a different style, etc. When I was in business, all 

 my ordinary cases were made of the best quality yellow-pine 

 wood to templet, and were sawn out and dressed in batches, 

 each top, bottom, side and back were made in exact pairs ; 

 glazing, English sheet-glass, ' Belgian ' and ' old crown ' 

 distorts. A subdued effect of sky and distance was painted 

 on the back in distemper, and each subject ' trimmed ' with 

 the fnoss, grasses or pebbles common to the habitat of each 

 individual. Now, when this had to be done in many instances 

 in competition with some amateur, who was cutting you in 

 his spare time, it is easy to see why so many of these goods 

 show cases too small, and inferior workmanship.' 



CLASSIFICATION. 



' Again, classification as to species does not come in to the 

 head of the ordinary householder, who requires, perhaps, two 

 quite diametrical subjects mounting, and orders the size of 



* It does not follow that any or all are exhibited. Most museums have 

 a big cellar. — Ed. 

 t i.e. might. — Ed. 



1917 April 1. 



