WARD’S NATURAL SCIENCE BULLETIN. 
15 
Our Duty to the Taxidermists’ Society. 
No one who has critically examined the zoolog- 
ical collections of our scientific museums will 
deny that the art of taxidermy is yet in fits early 
stage of development, or that taxidermists, the 
world over, have a great deal to learn. 
During the past we have seen painters of every 
description, sculptors, engravers, students of art 
needlework and decorative art, and skilled crafts- 
men of every description forming themselves into 
societies for mutual advancement, or founding 
art schools of the highest order, and we have seen 
great things accomplished in the world of art by 
means of combined and systematic elfort. 
It has long been a source of wonder why those 
interested in taxidermic work in both the old 
world and the new should for so many years he 
content to struggle on as isolated workers, each 
one carefully guarding his knowledge of meth- 
ods, instead of all combining on friendly terms 
in a mutual etfort to advance the interests of the 
whole number. For years it has been supposed 
that the professional jealousies of taxidermists 
was an unsurmountable obstacle in the way of 
any attempt at founding a society. 
We are glad to know' that at last a well organ- 
ized and persistent effort is to be made for the 
advancement of this art. We are proud 
to see that the taxidermists of America are 
the first to rise above the spirit of jealous 
exclusiveness which they naturally inherit, and 
join hands in a cordial and united effort to ele- 
vate the standard of taxidermic work in gen- 
eral and to improve themselves in particular. 
The Society of American Taxidermists repre- 
sents an earnest effort honestly made for the 
greatest good of the greatest number, and as 
such, Ward’s Natural Science Bulletin 
bids it God speed. We believe that the dissemi- 
nation of knowledge and a general improve- 
ment in taxidermic work cannot fail to be of 
great benefit to all patrons of the art, and a 
source of intense satisfaction to all students and 
lovers of animated nature. 
In view of the fact that Rochester contains a 
larger number of taxidermists than any other 
city in America, it is but natural that the first 
step toward organization should be made here. 
Already its good influence has been shown in 
many ways, and we are pleased to note that 
ever since the Society has been in existence our 
taxidermists have worked with a spirit and en- 
thusiasm which augurs well for the future. 
The Society’s first exhibition showed how 
earnestly the members were entering upon the 
work before them, and fully merited the success 
it achieved. Only those who examined the spe- 
cimens there displayed can realize how greatly 
the work of this body is likely to improve the 
general aspect of the zoological collections in our 
museums. In view of this fact it becomes the 
duty of every museum superintendent and cura- 
tor, every zoologist, and above all every taxi- 
dermist, to aid the movement which was so suc- 
cessfully inaugurated by this organization last 
year. One swallow does not make a summer, 
and a society with a small income cannot be 
expected to accomplish great things speedily un- 
less it receive some friendly assistance from with- 
out. The Society has a right to expect the sup- 
port of those who will be benefited by its suc- 
cess, and so far we have found pleasure in 
contributing to the success of its plans. Every 
earnest taxidermist, amateur or professional, and 
every one interested in taxidermic work should 
join the organization, help carry its burdens and 
share its triumphs. 
East and West. 
Among other objects recently shipped to New 
Zealand were a number of interesting models for 
the Canterbury Museum, comprising representa- 
tions of the curious Moqui towns and ancient 
cliff dwellings of Colorado and New Mexico, and 
restorations of the prehistoric lake dwellings of 
Switzerland. On the same day we forwarded 
specimens to the University of Bologna, Italy. 
Thus while one shipment was speeding westward 
to New Zealand, where not many years ago a Mus- 
eum was unthought of, the other was on its way 
east to a city for centuries a seat of learning. 
ANATOMICAL MODELS. 
The justly celebrated Auzoux models, for which 
Prof. Ward is agent, are undoubtedly the best 
that are made, but their cost and the time requir- 
ed to fill an order for them deter many from 
purchasing who nevertheless feel the need of 
illustrating lessons in physiology in such a man- 
ner that they can be readily understood. For 
this purpose the papier mache models of Ramm§ 
and Sodtmann are admirably adapted, being well 
made and at the same time moderate in price. 
There are over thirty of these models, most of 
wdiich are constantly on hand, showing the anat- 
omy of various portions of the body, and espec- 
ially of the head, eye and ear. 
For full description, see Catalogue of Human 
Skeletons and Anatomical Preparations, price 15 
cents. 
ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY. 
In this department we have an extensive and 
varied assortment of material, comprising arti- 
cles of dress, tools, weapons, utensils etc., of 
historic and prehistoric races. 
Danish stone and bronze implements and pot- 
tery, in large number and in great variety of 
form. Articles of various kinds of the Swiss 
Lake Dwellers, together with models of their 
habitations. Implements and fac-similes of bone 
carvings from the French troglodyte caves. 
Pottery, Carved Images and Stone Implements 
of the Aborigines of the United States, Mexico 
and Central America; and models of the Cave 
Towns of Colorado and New Mexico, and the 
Animal Mounds of Wisconsin. 
Pottery, Cloths, Mummies, &c., from Peruvian 
graves. Mummies (human and animal) and Cof- 
fins, from the Mummy-Pits of Egypt. Also, 
specimens of bead-work, carving and Sculpture, 
articles of dress and personal ornament, weapons, 
&c., of the existing races of North and South 
America, the Pacific Islands, &c., &c. 
Finally, series of human skulls, including 
Egyptian, Nubian, Peruvian, and American In- 
dian. Also, 
Typical Crania Copied in Plaster. 
On page 17 of Catalogue of Human Skeletons 
and Anatomical Preparations is noticed this series 
of 37 casts of skulls of various races of mankind 
which was prepared under the supervision of 
Prof. Flourens, director of the department of 
Anthropology in the Museum of the Jardin des 
Plantes at Paris. This seiies is invaluable to 
the student of Ethnology or Anthropology, the 
originals from which the casts were taken hav- 
ing been carefully selected so as to present 
typical specimens of the races inhabiting the 
principal Ethnographical regions of the world. 
Price of series, boxed, $80. 
4 
“Prof.Ward’s casts have introduced a feature 
quite unique in American museums. They have 
reproduced before the student fac-similes of the 
identical specimens upon which have been found- 
ed many of the grandest generalizations of 
geology, and the figures and notices of which 
have been incorporated permanently into the very 
history and traditions of science. — Prof. Alex. 
Winchell, in New Englang Journal of Education. 
Photography for Naturalists. 
Our attention was recently called to a com- 
plete photographic outfit for the use of natural- 
ists and tourists. We have examined it carefully 
and with much interest, and as the results 
obtained by it are most satisfactory, we desire to 
bring it to the notice of readers of the Bulletin. 
This little “Pocket Camera” is a model of 
convenience and lightness, and is designed 
especially for use in the field. The tripod legs 
fold together and with the rest of the instrument 
are stowed away in a small box, the complete 
outfit, ready for service, weighing but two 
pounds. One of the features which should be 
uoted is the “ball and socket” hinge connecting 
the camera and tripod and enabling the camera 
to be adjusted without moving the legs. Persons 
who have used the old style cameras will readily 
perceive the great advantage of this arrangement. 
The gelatine dry plate is used, being for this 
purpose far superior to the wet plate from the 
fact that it retains its sensitiveness indefinitely, 
and the developing can be postponed for months 
after exposure. These plates — 2%x3)4 inches in 
size — are now extensively prepared and can be 
had at very low rates (fifty cents per dozen). By 
obtaining prepared plates the most difficult 
operations in taking photographs are dispensed 
with, so that a person who has had no previous 
experience in the art can at once obtain good 
results. \ 
A compact, portable photographic apparatus 
is a thing long needed, and this instrument is 
well fitted to supply the want. As such we take 
pleasure in recommending it to the attention of 
naturalists and all persons interested in this kind 
of work. 
Inquiries concerning this camera should be 
addressed to the manufacturer, Mr. William H. 
Walker, Lock Box 200, Rochester, N. Y., who 
will cheerfully answer all questions, and on 
receipt of nine cents in stamps will send sample 
photograph. 
Echoes From College Recitation Rooms. 
“What is the significance of the geological 
term, ‘Silurian’?” 
“ It is derived from Silurii, the name of a race 
who inhabited Wales at the time of this forma- 
tion.” 
“ What is Coprolite?” 
“ Another kind of a reptile, I suppose.” 
“ Will you define lography?” 
“ Lography, Sir, is the science of logs, the art 
of reducing logs to kindling wood. The process 
is” 
“ Sufficient!” 
“ What is ‘ Boyle’s Law’?” 
“ Never to trump your partner’s ace.” 
“ What are the tropics?” 
“ Well, they begin where the Zodiac leaves off, 
and they” 
“ Sufficient!” 
“ What is the effect when an animal is placed 
in the exhausted receiver of an air-pump?” 
“ It immediately dies.” 
“ How do you account for this?” 
‘ ‘ It dies not only from the lack of air in the 
receiver, but from the tendency of the air in the 
animal itself to blow it up.” 
The annual meeting of the American Associa- 
tion for the Advancement of Science is held this 
year at Cincinnati, and in view of this fact edu- 
cational exhibits will be made the chief feature 
of the Exposition to be held there. Prof. Clark, 
of Cincinnati University, was delegated by the 
Exposition Committee to make arrangements for 
an exhibit from this Establishment, and visited 
us a few days ago for that purpose. The exhibit 
which we shall send will include the restoration 
of Mammoth, cast of Megatherium, and large 
Whale skeleton, besides series of Rocks, Miner- 
als, Skeletons, &c. 
«#► 
We have just shipped three car loads of geolo- 
gical and zoological material to San Francisco, 
including a complete series of Casts of Fossils, 
large collections of Rocks, Fossils and Minerals, 
and a series of Skeletons, led by a very large and 
fine Elephant. 
