14 
WARD’S NATURAL SCIENCE BULLETIN. 
The First Taxidermists’ Exhibition. 
A SUCCESSFUL MEETING AT ROCHESTER — THE 
DISPLAY VISITED BY A MULTITUDE OF INTER- 
ESTED PERSONS — FINE AND CURIOUS SPECIMENS 
Correspondence of the New York Tribune, 1880. 
Rochester, Dec. 17. — There is now being held 
in this city an exhibition of no common merit 
and interest, under the auspices of a society 
which, though not yet one year old, gives prom- 
ise of a brilliant future. In March last the taxi- 
dermists of this city and vicinity decided to 
found a National Society of Taxidermists, which 
should be devoted to the development and im- 
provement of their art. The plan proposed was 
to hold annual meetings and coinpetetive ex- 
hibitions, and the public of Western New York 
are now witnessing the first effort of this kind. 
The society is composed of professional and 
amateur taxidermists from all parts of the Mid- 
dle States, who have worked with a will to make 
their first exhibition a success, and the result has 
been a surprise both to the public and themselves. 
Since it is probable that the next effort of the 
society will be made in New York city, a year 
hence, on a far grander scale, this exhibition 
claims more than a passing notice. Although 
the art of taxidermy had its birth in the old 
world, this society is the first of the kind ever 
organized, and this exhibition possesses the 
charm of being an entirely novel enterprise. 
Through the generosity of two public-spirited 
business men of this city, James Vick and John 
Fahy, a fine hall 110x30 feet in size was 
placed at the disposal of the society, and is now 
occupied by the exhibition. As the visitor enters 
the door he is confronted by a splendid lion, 
which seems to have turned its head suddenly to 
the left and opened its mouth to seize him. This 
specimen is the work of a well-known New 
York taxidermist. On the left of the entrance 
stands a tiger, almost of the largest size, 9 feet 8 
inches in length, perhaps the largest and finest in 
America, which was killed in India by the secre- 
tary of the society. At the upper end of the 
hall, occupying a prominent position, is a large 
and striking group labeled “A Fight in the Tree- 
tops.” It is composed of two immense male 
orang-outangs engaged in a fierce struggle. The 
largest has seized the hand of the other, drawn 
it to his mouth and is just in the act of biting 
off the middle finger at the second joint, from 
which the blood is flowing. The owner of the 
finger is swinging down upon his antagonist, 
with mouth wide open and a savage expression 
of mingled pain and rage upon his face. The 
surroundings have been worked up with great 
care to reproduce a section of a Bornean forest, 
with its trees and dark green foliage, orchids and 
creepers. This striking group is the work of 
the same artist who mounted the now famous 
group of orang-outangs in the American Museum 
in New York. 
Near the group of orang-outangs, in strong 
contrast with their fierce black faces, brawny 
limbs and general ugliness, stands a large group 
called “ The Flamingo at Home.” In the shal- 
low water at the edge of a lagoon a female fla- 
mingo has built her nest of mud and grass, and 
in a half standing posture is covering her eggs. 
On the left of the group a stately male bird is 
standing proudly erect, while on the right a third 
male bird is stooping down intently watching a 
small turtle which can just be distinguished at 
the bottom of the water. On the surface of the 
water there float most life-like leaves and flowers 
of the pond lily, and other aquatic plants grow 
at the water’s edge. This beautiful group is the 
work of the president of the society. _ Near by, 
upon two easels, are a pair of medallions of ex- 
quisite beauty, done by the same skillful hand. 
Against a background of black velvet, upon a 
o-ilt log, stands a snowy heron, with one foot 
raised, his plumes showing like threads of spun 
glass against the background. A massive frame 
of purple velvet and gilt completes an elegant 
work of art. . 
Another artistic group of birds is entitled An 
Interrupted Dinner.” A hawk has just killed a 
partridge and is preparing for a feast, w'hen a 
peregrine falcon swoops down to rob him of his 
prize The artist has represented the moment of 
attack. The hawk has turned upon its back to 
receive the assailant, partly covering its prey 
with one of its outstretched wings, its bloody 
beak and talons reaching upward. The artist 
has represented the falcon as hovering in mid- 
air directly above the hawk, with claws extended, 
endeavoring to strike the former at an unguarded 
point. The group has been prepared with the 
skill and care which characterize the artist who 
loves his art. 
On one side of the hall, occupying a wall 
space twenty feet square, is a fine display of 
decorative pieces, comprising deer and elk heads, 
panel pieces of dead game, feather fire screens, 
owls of every description, and miscellaneous 
pieces in great variety. This exhibit is the 
centre of attraction to the throng of ladies who 
visit the exhibition. Further along is a display 
of artistic groups of birds, from the bald eagle 
to the humming bird. Usually each case con- 
tains a flock of birds of one species only, or at 
most two, arranged with natural scenery and 
background effects to represent the haunts and 
habits of the birds. The catalogue enumerates 
ninety-seven groups of birds, and in work of this 
class the display is very rich and attractive. 
Along the opposite side of the hall is ranged a 
row of deer heads, cabinet groups of birds and 
single bird specimens. Down the centre, on an 
elevated platform, are the single mammal speci- 
mens, among which we find a noble American 
bison, a mountain sheep of great beauty, stand- 
ing proudly on a rock, an antelope, a lioness, a 
black bear, a fur seal and her young, and various 
smaller animals. 
Another prominent feature of the exhibition is 
the display of grotesque groups which furnish 
an endless amount of amusement to old and 
young. There are frogs, sqrirrels and kittens 
playing cards and dominoes, duelling, drinking, 
smoking, fishing and making love, in all of 
which the attitudes, facial expression and acces- 
sories are worked out with consummate skill. 
One frog group, labelled “The Taxidermist,” 
represents the president of the society sitting at 
his table mounting a humming-bird. Another, 
called “Sitting for a Portrait,” is exceedingly 
droll. The most attractive of all the grotesque 
groups is called “ The Story of Cock Robin, 
Complete,” and is precisely what the name 
indicates. 
A beautiful sleigh-robe, made of a leopard skin 
with the head mounted in fine style, is seen at 
one end of the hall, and beside it stands an otto- 
man made of an elephant’s foot. 
Besides the above, the display includes groups 
of fishes and crabs, a fine lot of bird skins, taxi- 
dermists’ tools, glass eyes, perches, artificial 
leaves and general accessories to taxidermy. A 
carefully arranged catalogue enumerates 239 en- 
tries, all branches of taxidermy being well repre- 
sented. Each specimen is fully labelled, so that 
the visitor has full information concerning it. 
The opening reception of the exhibition was 
held on last Tuesday night. Since that date the 
exhibition has been open to the public, and as its 
character and merits are becoming more widely 
known it is becoming very popular. A disap- 
pointed visitor has not yet been seen, and the 
attendance steadily increases. It was the inten- 
tention of the society to close the exhibition at 
the end of four days, but by the general request 
of the press and public, it has been decided to 
continue it three days longer. The success of 
the society is now assured and its permanence as 
a national organization established. It had the 
good fortune to secure as judges of the ex- 
hibition three prominent patrons of taxidermy, 
Professor J. A. Allen, of the Museum of Com- 
parative Zodlogy, Cambridge, Mass. ; Dr. J oseph 
B. Holder, of the American Museum of Natural 
History, New York city; and Professor W. E. 
D. Scott, of the Princeton College Museum. 
Their sealed report is now in the hands of the 
secretary and will not be made known until near 
the close of the exhibition. 
At the general meeting of the society, held on 
the 16th inst.. Professor W. E. D. Scott, of 
Princeton, was elected president for the next 
year; Mr. F. S. Webster was elected vice-presi- 
dent; Mr. William T. Hornaday was re-elected 
secretary, and Mr. F. A. Lucas treasurer. Al- 
ready the various members are designing large 
groups and special exhibits for the next ex- 
hibition. The society is as yet undecided whether 
to hold the next exhibition in Boston or New 
York, but at present the preference is in favor of 
the latter. 
^ » 
The Taxidermists. 
THE LAST NIGHT OF A SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITION. 
From Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Dec. 23, 1880. 
Last night was .the closing night of the Ameri- 
can Taxidermists’ society’s exhibition, and as 
usual the hall was filled with people who seemed 
to take great pleasure in viewing the many hand- 
some exhibits which the room contained. This 
exhibition was in the outset merely gotten up as 
an experiment, the members as a rule being un- 
certain as to the result of their efforts in bringing 
before the public something that was never be- 
fore attempted; but the people have demon- 
strated in a manner eminently satisfactory to all 
concerned that they will uphold every enter- 
prise that has for its fundamental principle the 
advancement of science and general knowledge. 
The success of the undertaking has a deeper 
significance than is at first apparent. It proves 
conclusively that this society contains a large 
number of gentlemen whose skill as taxider- 
mists is such as to produce work that will com- 
mand the admiration of a large class of people 
whose aesthetic tastes are highly cultivated, and 
it also shows in a happy manner the growing 
disposition on the part of the masses to become 
acquainted with the different branches of art. 
Throughout the exhibition a great many sales have 
been made by the members, of different pieces 
of their handiwork, and the last day was par- 
ticularly noticeable on account of the large num- 
ber of fancy pieces, such as deers’ heads, game 
screens and the like, which were disposed of. 
Owls were in eager demand, and a gentleman 
connected with the society averred that there 
were at least fifty orders during the day, for 
specimens of these dignified bipeds. Some of 
the exhibitors, particularly those who displayed 
cases of birds, were unsuccessful in disposing 
of anything, but probably it was on account 
of the value of their productions, more than 
anything else, that forbade many from purchasing. 
It was the original intention of the society to 
devote only one week to an exhibition, but on 
account of the great interest taken in the affair, 
the managers decided to hold open until last 
night, and possibly another week might be made 
one of profit, judging from the expressions and 
remarks of those present last night, but as sev- 
eral of the members are obliged to remove their 
exhibits, it was eminently proper that the man- 
agement decided its close last night. Although 
the financial matters have not yet been adjusted, 
the members are confident that the result will 
be more than satisfactory to all, and in a few 
days the amount will he published. It is the 
present intention to issue a volume of the pro- 
ceedings of the society, and doubtless the matter 
contained therein will be of interest to all. 
Probably the next annual meeting of the so- 
ciety will be held either in Boston or New York, 
but if by any chance the members could be in- 
duced to honor Rochester with their exhibition 
they would be certain to receive the patronage 
of the people. In conclusion, the society is to be 
congratulated on the great success of its venture, 
and is assured that the public is with it in its 
work. 
The first Annual Report of the S. A. T. is now 
ready. It is a neat pamphlet of 36 pages, con- 
taining a full report of the progress of the So- 
ciety, of the first general meeting and exhibition, 
the address of President Webster, the judges’ re- 
port, list of honors— general and special— to be 
awarded at the Boston exhibition, besides much 
other matter of general interest. It is illustrated 
by three autotype plates, one of which is a gen- 
eral view of the late exhibition. Copies may be 
obtained post-paid for fifty cents each, by appli- 
cation to the secretary, Wm. T. Hornaday, 31 
Prince street, Rochester, N. Y. 
