BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES 
KEPORT OF THE JURIES, 1851. 
The number of British exhibitors is thirteen. Of these the 
following deserve especial notice. A. D. Bartlett (291, p. 817) 
exhibits an ingenious example of the art in the constructed 
hgure of the Dodo— a bird which was once a native of Mauritius, 
and found there in considerable numbers at the beginning of 
the last century, but now, as far as is known, entirely extinct. 
The drawings of Savery, preserved in the Belvedere at Vienna, 
and in the Royal Gallery at Berlin, and some remains of a 
skeleton formerly in the collection already alluded to, of Elias 
Ashmole, consisting now but of the head and one foot, are the 
data from which tlie figure has been compiled. The process is 
of course very different from that of preserving a real animal, 
the skeleton and skin of which are entire ; an artificial body has 
to be constructed and then covered, feather by feather, with 
such plumage as is most in accordance with our knowledge of 
the bird. This has been very skilfully executed, and the result, 
by the testimony of Mr. Strickland and of Mr. Gray of the 
British Museum, “ represents with great accuracy the form, 
dimensions and colour of the Dodo, as far as these character- 
istics can be ascertained from the evidences which exist,” whilst 
it “ does great credit to Mr. Bartlett’s skill and to his practical 
acquaintance with the structure of birds.” 
There are other specimens exhibited by Mr. Bartlett which 
are perhaps more attractive, inasmuch as they represent nature 
with a fidelity of which all can judge. The pair of Impeyan 
Pheasants, entitled “ Courtship,” and the sleeping Ourang-utang, 
“ Repose,” are especially deserving of notice. The fleshy parts 
of the latter have been very skilfully treated ; and the dried 
and shrivelled appearance which they so often assume is entirely 
avoided. 
The skeleton of the Ourang-utang lias been preserved and also 
the viscera ; the whole forming an example of the manner in 
which rare specimens should be dealt with in order to secure 
accurate information to the naturalist, and to promote the 
advancement of science. 
List of A wards. 
A. D. Bartlett, Great College Street, Camden Town (Class 
xxix. 291, p. 817), prize medal for a model of the Dodo, and 
several excellent examples in the higher branches of taxidermy. 
