36 
SOC. OF AM. TAXIDERMISTS, ANNUAL REPORT. 
and gaping moiitli, as if in chase of insects. Don’t stand every 
Penguin bolt upright, but liave one scrambling on all fours down 
a rocky ledge, and let at least one Stork assume his characteristic 
attitude when at rest and sit with tarsi flat on the ground, wings 
drooped and bill pointing downward. jSlote on an Albatross with 
spread pinions, that this bird flies for days at a time with barely 
a few minutes rest, and yon draw attention to the fact that long 
narrow wings are best adapted for long continued flight. In short, 
let each bird, so far as practicable, be mounted in an appropriate 
attitude and teach some fact in its life history. 
A dozen Herons mounted in commonplace attitudes on plain 
stands are passed hastily by, but group them artistically and they 
become a study. Let one stalk cautiously along with outstretched 
neck, another preen liis plumes, a third watch for prey with head 
slightly turned and neck drawn back ready to strike, while a 
fourth poised on one leg, head upon his shoulders forms a contrast 
to his neighbor who with bill in the air, stitfly extended neck and 
perpendicularly raised body assumes that likeness to a stump 
which is one of the Heron’s modes of protection. “ Look upon 
this picture and on this” and tell me which is better suited for 
])opular instruction or scientifle teaching? Of course too many 
“ spread eagle ” attitudes could not be indulged in on the ground 
of lack of room, but a few are positively necessary, and as a few 
carefully selected books are worth more than a hundred taken at 
hap hazard, so a small number of well displayed specimens is of 
more value than a large collection of poor material. 
In many birds the wings are marked with brilliant colors, 
or curious figures which are completel}^ hidden when the wings 
are closed, and should be freely placed in such attitudes as would 
permit the wings to be wholly or partially opened and allow the 
beauties of the bird to be disclosed. These specimens are not 
only attractive, but they are actually better for scientifle purposes. 
And just here let us consider the necessity of making a museum 
attractive to the general public. We are continually told of the 
great desirability of general scientifle instruction, and yet, as our 
Museums are arranged they are rather for the benefit of those 
who already have some scientific knowledge than for the purpose 
of creating an interest in nature among the general public. 
Ninety nine visitors in a hundred go to a Museum with no 
definite purpose, and come away with nothing more than a gen- 
