SCIENCE. 



37 



SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1880. 



THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN TAXI- 

 DERMISTS. 



BY WM. T. HORNADAY. 



It is high time that the art of taxidermy should 

 receive a new impetus from some source, if it is ever 

 to rise above the level of an undignified, and rather 

 unattractive trade. It is by no means universally 

 looked upon as a fine art, it is certainly not patron- 

 ized as such, and, until it is developed to a far higher 

 state of perfection than it is at present, we are by no 

 means sure it deserves to be. At present most tax- 

 idermists are fiercely jealous of each other and outsid- 

 ers, and guard their little knowledge as a miser hoards 

 his gold; and yet not a single taxidermist in America 

 earns a competence, and no other position when once 

 lost in one place is so hard to obtain in another. 

 Taxidermists are agreed upon one point, and only 

 one, viz. : that their art is one requiring as much 

 anatomical knowledge and executive skill as either 

 painting or sculpture, while each man, with but few 

 exceptions is firmly convinced past all argument that 

 his work is equalled by few and surpassed by none. 



At present, taxidemy is not a popular art ; as a pro- 

 fession, it is remunerative to the select few only, and 

 even to those in a very moderate degree. But 

 such results are but merited, and for this tax- 

 idermists have themselves to thank. If painters and 

 sculptors had always been as narrow-minded, jealous, 

 and absurdly exclusive of their knowledge as we have 

 ever been (with but few exceptions) their art would 

 stand no higher to-day than ours. I have known of 

 taxidermists, who, when visited by other members of 

 the profession, would invariably stop working the mo- 

 ment the visitor appeared and remain idle during his 

 entire stay even though their specimen spoiled. Such 

 men must think they are the only taxidermists in the 

 world. 



A great artist of any other description is ever ready 

 and anxious to learn, even from the meanest sources 

 sometimes ; but your taxidermist soon knows too 

 much to be taught anything by anybody, and to offer 

 him any advice, or make an unfavorable criticism is 

 to insult him. As a rule he refuses to teach his art 

 to anyone, save at most fabulous prices. As a result 

 of all this, taxidermy is not a popular art and not a 

 tithe of its capabilities have yet been developed. 

 Taxidermists have never combined to build up their 

 art; from the very foundation, there have been no ex- 

 hibitions, no well directed competition, no intelligent 

 verdict as to the merits of this man or that, no inter- 

 change of ideas, no general and hearty dissemination 

 of knowledge bearing upon this subject. The know- 

 ledge of the art is confined to a few, and so is the 

 patronage. 



The Society of American Taxidermists, the first of 

 the kind ever organized, has been formed for the 



President, Frederic S. Webster ; Secretary, Wm. T. Hornaday. Office 

 of the Secretary, 19 Rowley St., Rochester, N. Y. 



avowed purpose of developing the art of taxidermy, 

 and elevating it to the position it should occupy be- 

 side the kindred arts of painting and sculpture. It 

 has been formed not for the benefit of a few indi- 

 viduals, but with the higher, broader purpose of devel- 

 oping the possibilities of the art, and raising it to the 

 level of a dignified and justly remunerative profession. 

 Its members are practical, determined men who enter 

 upon the work before them with all professional jeal- 

 ousy laid aside, and with the determination to work 

 as one man. They propose to diffuse as widely as 

 possible a correct knowledge of the methods em- 

 ployed in taxidermy, and by their work to create in 

 the public a proper appreciation of their art as such. 

 They believe that by combination, sharp but well 

 regulated competition, and a few years of patient, 

 earnest work and self improvement they will, in a 

 measure, accomplish their object. 



The Society has been started by the professional taxi- 

 dermists in Prof. Ward's famous establishment at Ro- 

 chester, N. Y., and already includes many well-known 

 specialists in every branch of the art. It has received 

 most cordial letters of encouragement and endorsement 

 from such eminent scientists and patrons of taxidermy 

 as Prof. Henry A. Ward, of Rochester, Prof. J. A. 

 Allen, of Cambridge, Dr. Elliott Coues, of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, and Dr. G. E. Manigault, of Char- 

 leston, S. C. Each of the above-mentioned gentle- 

 men is an Honorary Member of the society. 



The organization is steadily attracting candidates 

 for membership from various parts of the United 

 States, liberal minded professionals, and ambitious and 

 enterprising amateurs who are only too glad of so fair 

 an opportunity to follow up an attractive art. 



The Society is to be national in all respects, and it 

 is to be hoped it will yet wield an influence which will 

 be felt in foreign countries. Indeed its members look 

 forward to the day when there may be held under its 

 auspices in this country a grand international exhibi- 

 tion of works in taxidermy. 



The Society proposes to hold its first annual meet- 

 ing and exhibition in the city of Rochester, on or 

 about Dec. 20th of this year, at which a corps of 

 carefully selected judges shall critically examine the 

 objects in the exhibition and award the honors. Of 

 course the judges will not be ordinary members of the 

 society, and absolute fairness will be guaranteed. The 

 objects entered for the exhibition will be divided into 

 the following classes, which embrace work in every 

 branch of the art: 



A. TAXIDERMY PROPER. 



First — Stuffed mammals, birds, reptiles and fishes, 

 in groups. 



Second — Single specimens. 



Third — Heads. (Special attention is requested to 

 the artistic arrangement of heads, especially those of 

 small animals). 



Fourth — Skins of all kinds. 



Fifth — Crustaceans, in groups. 



B. MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS. 



First — Animals grotesquely mounted. 



Second — Ornamental articles, in which only por- 

 tions of an animal are used, as fans, feather work, 

 fire screens, rugs, footstools, etc. 



