THE RISE AND PEOGEESS OF TAXIDEEMY. 11 



just after that time, the system was tried of skinning birds in 

 their fresh state, and also of cutting the skins longitudinally in 

 two halves, and filling the one half with plaster ; then the skin 

 was fixed to a backboard, an eye was inserted, and the beak and 

 legs were imitated by painting : and this was then fixed in a 

 sort of framework of glass. This system is still followed to a 

 certain extent ; for, fifteen years ago, when I was in one of the 

 Greek islands, a German came round the town selling birds 

 mounted in the same way, and also mounted feather by feather. 



To quote now from the translation of a French work, published 

 by Longman, Rees, and Co., in London, in 1820,* we find that 

 " A work appeared at Lyons in 1758, entitled ' Instructions on 

 the Manner of Collecting and Preparing the Different Curiosities 

 of Natural History.' " 



The author was the first who submitted some useful principles for 

 taxidermy. He ornamented his book with many plates, more than half 

 of which are in all respects foreign to his subject, as they simply repre- 

 sent shells, and other marine productions, with their descriptions. 



In 1786, the Abbe Manesse published a volume under the title of 

 " Treatise on the Manner of Stuffing and Preserving Animals and Skins.' ' 

 He presented his work to the Academy, who made a favourable report 

 of it. 



Mauduyt has given a memoir on the manner of preparing dead birds 

 for forming collections. (See la Seme " Livraison de L'Encyclopedie 

 Methodique, Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux," t. i., deuxieme partie, 

 p. 435.) By studying his method we may, with perseverance, be able to 

 mounc birds well, although he had never prepared them himself, for he 

 has composed his memoir from the notes which Lerot furnished him, who 

 mounted them very well, and who merited the confidence which Mauduyt 

 had accorded him in all the preparations which his fine collection 

 required. 



An old sculptor, living at Lahaye, devoted himself to the practice of 

 taxidermy, and in a short time surpassed all those who had employed 

 themselves in mounting animals, especially large mammalia. 



It seems that neither the English nor the Dutch have published any 

 work which treats of the method of mounting animals according to 

 system. 



* The sixth edition, twenty-three years later, has this title, •' Taxidermy, or the Art of Pre- 

 paring and Mounting Objects of ^a1ural History for the use of Museums and Travellers, by 

 IVIrs. R. Lee, formerly Mrs. J, Ldward Bowdicli. bixth edition, 18i3. Longman, Brown, 

 Green, and Longman." 



