WARD’S NATURAL SCIENCE BULLETIN. 
13 
THE TAXIDERMISTS’ EXHIBITION. 
The third exhibition of the Society of American 
Taxidermists, held at Lyric Hall, Hew York, 
during the first part of May, was a success in 
every sense of the word, and if it was of necessity 
postponed from the date originally named it cer- 
tainly gained by the delay. Thirty members were 
represented by about six hundred pieces, while a 
new and attractive feature was the creation of an 
“Honorary Class” for the display of models, 
drawings, and casts of animals by those not mem- 
bers of the society. The most noteworthy exhibit 
in this class was made by Mr. Edward Kemeys 
of New York, who was represented by twenty 
pieces of sculpture, the subject being taken from 
American animals. The chief of these in size was 
the original model of the Still Hunt — a crouching 
Panther — which has been cast in bronze for 
Central Park, but to our mind the Fighting 
Panther and Deer was the finest. This piece is 
full of life and action, and we would greatly like 
to see it reproduced of a life size in bronze. Mr. 
Hendley, and the Messrs. Palmer of the National 
Museum, exhibited some handsome casts of 
fishes, while a cast of head of Lyre Turtle by 
Mr. William Palmer was deemed by the judges to 
be worthy a special medal. It is very evident 
that the stimulus of the public exhibition of the 
society is doing much to elevate the standard of 
Taxidermy, for there is a steady improvement 
from year to year. The growing demand for 
ornamental Taxidermy is shown by the increased 
number of decorative pieces, and this year there 
was hardly an exhibitor but what had something 
to show in this line. The leaders in the decorative 
movement — Messrs. Fraine and Webster — sur- 
passed their previous efforts both in the size and 
quality of their exhibits, and their display of 
screens, medallions, &c., attracted universal atten- 
tion. There were a few pieces, however, which, 
although handsome, could hardly be called Taxi- 
dermy except by courtesy ; such were hat racks 
formed from or decorated with polished horns, 
stools made of deer’s antlers, and the like. We 
cheerfully admit the beauty of these articles, but 
they are not taxidermy. Mr. Bailly exhibited as 
usual a fine series of grotesque groups of Frogs 
— for which he received a medal — and Mr. Gra- 
ham was represented by a number of pieces, 
noticeable among which was H. M. S. Pina- 
fore with a full dramatic company of Squir- 
rels. Under the title of the Dean of the Grotesque 
Group Mr. Bailly’s friends at once recognized the 
gentlemen himself, who, personated by a huge 
bullfrog and surrounded by the paraphernalia of 
his art was busily employed in mounting a Toad. 
The two largest groups were exhibited by Mr. 
Wallace, the one a Tartar hunter attacked by 
Tigers, the other Lions fighting for their prey. 
The first of thesewas very dramatic, the hunter, 
who is on horseback, having been assailed by two 
Tigers whose cub he holds in his lap. One Tiger 
clings to the horses haunches while the other 
clings to his throat and fore shoulders. 
A group of Turtles by Mr. Lucas, was awarded 
the medal for reptiles, and his hawks in combat, 
entitled An Interrupted Dinner, attracted much 
attention. We trust at another exhibition he will 
replace some of his framed pieces by others more 
aspiring in their character. Prof. Ward’s display, 
comprising specimens mounted by Messrs. Critch- 
ly, Martens, Webster and Storck, occupied one 
entire end of the hall, and included representatives 
of almost every branch of Taxidermy. A huge 
Bull Moose was the most noticeable for size, and 
a group of Platypus, by Mr. Webster, for excel- 
lence. _ We know that museum authorities persist 
in crying out against groups, but eventually they 
must give way and admit pieces that are at once 
interesting and instructive. This group of Pla- 
typus gives one an idea not only of the animal, 
but. also of its haunts and habits, and we es- 
pecially admired one individual who is repre- 
sented as having caught a branch overhanging 
the water, and is endeavoring to clamber out 
thereby. Mr. Critchley’s Steller’s Duck on panel was 
to our mind the handsomest thing of its kind in the 
exhibition, but it was closely followed by a beauti- 
ful gull similarly mounted by Mr. Capen. Mr. 
Storck’s medallions of dead game were exquisitely 
mounted, but we think lost much of their effect 
from the reflection of their curved glasses which 
prevented their being properly seen. The curved 
class, it is true, permits the use of a shallow case, 
but we would be willing to have it deeper 
for the sake of a flat glass and clear view. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hedly, among many handsome groups, 
displayed some novelties in the way of hum- 
ming birds. The first prize was given to Mr. 
Hornaday for the African Elephant Mungo, 
a finely executed and most lifelike piece of 
work. This elephant was kind enough to die 
in Washington, where he was immediately taken 
in hand by the National Museum. No pains 
were spared in the mounting, and the result speaks 
well for the use of a good manikin and clay in 
mounting large pieces. Taxidermists alone can 
properly appreciate the difficulties to overcome 
in the mounting of the Hairless Mexican Terrier, 
also the work of Mr. Hornaday. The only draw- 
back of this piece lay in the coloring of the skin, 
and we frankly confess ourselves unable to remedy 
that. The difficulty lies in applying paint so that 
it will appear to have some depth to it and allow 
the texture of the skin to show as in life. The 
second prize went to Mr. Webster’s Wounded 
Heron, a White Egret, transfixed with a golden 
arrow and mounted against a blue velvet back- 
ground. This most beautiful piece is perhaps the 
finest example of thoroughly artistic taxidermy 
we have ever seen. The criticism was made that 
the left wing was in an attitude unattainable by 
the living bird, but this is in a wounded, strug- 
gling bird is perfectly allowable. 
The Judges of merit of the various pieces in- 
tend for competition were Prof. J. W. P. Jenks, 
of Brown University and the artists Mr. James C. 
Beard and Mr. Daniel C. Beard, of New York. 
The following is a full list of the awards made: 
REGULAR PRIZES. 
I. Best piece in entire exhibition, Silver 
Specialty Medal, to Win, T. Hornaday, for 
African Elephant. 
II. Second best piece in entire exhibition, 
Specialty Medal, Bronze, to F. S. Webster, 
for “Wounded Heron.” 
III. Best general exhibit, General Average 
Medal, Silver, to F. S. Webster. 
IY. Diplomas of honor in taxidermy proper, 
John Wallace — for Mammals and Owl, 
P. W. Aldrich — for Mammals, 
Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Iledley — for Birds, 
F. S. Webster — for Birds, 
A. Yeoman— for Birds, 
T. W. Fraine — for Birds, 
P. W. Aldrich — for Birds, 
J. Storck — for Birds. 
F. S. Webster — for Reptiles, 
W. J. Critchley — for Reptiles, 
W. J. Critchley— for Fishes, 
W. J. Critchley — for Heads. 
CERTIFICATES OF MERIT. 
Mrs. Wm. Yick — for Birds, 
Wm. Palmer — for Birds, 
E. A. Capen — for Birds, 
L. M. McCormick— for Birds. 
SPECIAL PRIZES. 
BEST MISCELLANEOUS EXHIBIT. 
T. W. Fraine— Bronze Medal, 
BEST EXHIBIT OF REPTILES. 
F. A Lucas— Bronze Medal. 
BEST EXHIBIT OF HEADS. 
John Wallace — Silver Medal. 
BEST DISPLAY OF ARTICLES OF ORNAMENT OR USE. 
F. S. Webster— Silver Medal. 
HANDSOMEST SINGLE ARTICLE OF ORNAMENT 
OR USE. 
T. W. Fraine — Diploma of Honor. 
SEVERAL HANDSOMEST ARTICLES OF ORNAMENT 
OR USE. 
W. J. Critchley — Certificate of Merit. 
BEST EXHIBIT OF GROTESQUE GROUPS. 
J. F. D. Bailly — Bronze Medal, 
DIPLOMAS OF HONOR FOR GROTESQUE GROUPS. 
C. W. Graham, W. J. Critchley. 
The Reception, or general opening of the Ex- 
hibition, was on the evening of April 81st. The 
Hall was well filled with a goodly concourse of 
ladies and gentlemen who had been called there 
by the special invitations which had been sent 
out. The Hall became for the Lime an inpromptu 
promenade, and all present entered heartily into 
the spirit of the occasion and passed around the 
room from one beautiful object to another — exam- 
ining and admiring. In the latter part of the 
evening the opening address was read by Dr. J. 
B. Holder, of the American Museum of Natural 
History. The Doctor gave a most interesting re- 
view of the history of Taxidermy in America and 
contrasting the feeling among taxidermists limn 
and now, comparing also the quality of their 
work. 
The general meeting of the Society was held 
during the morning and afternoon of May 1st, and 
bronght together more taxidermists than prob- 
ably "ever before assembled. Twenty-one members 
were present. After the address of Mr. Lucas on 
the Scope and Needs of Taxidermy, the following 
papers were read : Common Faults in the Mount- 
ing of Mammals, Mr. Hornaday; Taxidermic 
Yalue of Animal Illustrations, Mr. Staebner; On 
the Mounting of Crustaceans, Mr. Lucas; Taxi- 
dermy as a Decorative Art, Mr. Webster; How to 
Clean Birds of all Kinds, Mr. Webster; How to 
Make Good Bird Skins, Mr. Ratlibun; On the 
Mounting of Turtles, Mr. Lucas, and On the 
Mounting of Mammal Heads, Mr. Hornaday. 
Twenty new members were added to the roll, 
and New York — date to be fixed hereafter- 
named as the place for the next exhibition. 
OUR GROUPS OF FISH-EATING BIRDS. 
The following - letter from Dr. Coues, our dis- 
tinguished American Ornithologist, refers to the six 
groups of Aquatic Birds, which, as we stated on 
another page, we mounted for the National Museum 
to form a part of their display at the International 
Fishery Exposition at London : 
Washington, March 12, 1883. 
Prof. Henry A. Ward, Rochester, N. Y. 
Dear Professor : — I am very glad that you de- 
cided to place some of the beautiful results of 
taxidermal art from your establishment on ex- 
hibition here, prior to sending them to London — 
if for no other than the selfish reason that I have 
had the pleasure of examining these interesting 
cases of mounted birds. 
After my long experience with ordinary mu- 
seum objects, which, too often, offend the eye, 
however great their scientific value may be, it is 
positively refreshing to find taxidermy fairly en- 
listed on the side of art-education, without any 
sacrifice of scientific exactitude and precision. 
These stuffed birds may be favorably compared 
with the best results of those who, with true ar- 
tistic feeling and a vivid sense of the idea which 
such natural objects embody, have employed 
their pencil and brush in the faithful representa- 
tion of the feathered tribes. 
The results in this particular case are the more 
gratifying in the fact that, as I understand, these 
birds were mounted, not from fresh specimens, 
but from indifferently prepared skins, after the 
vicissitudes of long travel and museum keeping. 
While I must continue to suppose, as I have for 
many years, that the preparation of birds in such 
elegant manner is scarcely practicable on the 
great scale required by our largest museums, I 
am satisfied that the owners or directors of 
smaller collections may profitably study to im- 
prove their taxidermy, thereby making objects 
of natural history no less attractive than instruct- 
ive. The abortions of the average show-cases 
are enough to repel any one who is not “ forcibly 
addicted ” to ornithology, and it is a great point 
gained, to reverse this state of things. Even 
when circumstances forbid extensive groupings 
of birds, with imitation of their natural sur- 
roundings, there is always room for the display 
of taste, tact and actual scientific knowledge, in 
reproducing their endlessly varied expressions 
and attractions. 
You are doing good work, and a good deal of 
it in the right direction. While the many and 
most substantial acknowledgments of your work 
which you constantly receive render my owu 
entirely superfluous, please accept these few 
words of sincere admiration and encouragement, 
in the kind and friendly spirit in which they are 
offered. With regards and best wishes, 
Yery truly yours, Elliot Coues. 
