13 
Secretary's General Report. 
MARCH i2fh, 1880, TO MARCH 1881. 
On Friday. March I2th, 1880, there met at No. 7 Elm Street, in the city of 
Rochester, F. S. Webster, Thomas W. Fraine, Frederic A. Lucas, Jules F. 
D. Bailly, John Martens, A. B. Baker and William T. .Hornaday, to discuss 
a plan for the formation of a national Society of Taxidermists. After a general 
discussion of the plan proposed, it was decided to undertake the formation of such 
a Society, and each gentleman present pledged himself to the support of the plan. 
Messrs. Webster, Lucas and Hornaday were appointed a committee to draw up 
a Constitution, and a circular letter addressed to the taxidermists of this country. 
At a meeting held on March 24th, the .Society organized by electing the follow- 
ing officers ; 
President — Frederic S. Webster. 
Vice-President — Thomas W. Fraine. 
Secretary — William T. Hornaday. 
Treasurer — Frederic A. Lucas. 
A standing committee was appointed to act with the above officers. A Consti- 
tution was submitted and adopted, and five hundred copies ordered printed for 
general distribution. A circular letter was submitted, approved, and three hundred 
copies were ordered printed. The Secretary was instructed to send a copy of the 
Constitution and the circular letter to every taxidermist in this country whose name 
and address could be obtained. About one hundred and sixty copies of these 
documents were sent out, and in reply to this extended invitation only two persons 
responded at once, George H. Hedley, of Medina, and A, H. Wood, of Painted 
Post. Both these gentlemen joined the Society, and were the first out-of-town 
members secured. The Society held a business meeting on the first Friday in 
each month, in the rooms of the Monroe County Sportsmen’s Club, in the city of 
Rochester, which had been kindly placed at the disposal of the .Society. 
A number of prominent scientists and patrons of taxidermy were elected hon- 
orary members of the Society, and their letters of sympathy and encouragement 
had great influence with outsiders in inducing them to join the organization. F. T, 
Jencks, of Providence became a member at the August meeting, and Professor 
W. E. D. Scott, of Princeton, N. J., in September, which added very materially 
to the prestige of the Society, and was the means of bringing in several valuable 
working members. 
