18 
Ward’s Natural Science Establishment, ) 
Rochester, N.Y., June 24, 1880. f 
T'Vnt,. T, HoYnadcty , Secretary of the Society Ame^'ican Taxidermists : 
Dear Sir : Your letter of the loth inst. came duly to hand on my return from 
abroad last week. It pleased me to be informed that your Society has done me the 
honor to invite me to a position in it as an honorary member. I am gratified to 
know that you have formed a society for the avowed purpose of elevating the 
standard of work in taxidermy and raising it to the position it should hold among 
other fine arts. This is truly a purpose worthy of ail success. 
I believe that by a few years of earnest work, with the incentive thereto which 
it supplies, your Society can cause a great and permanent advance in the art of 
taxidermy, conferring a solid boon on the science of zoology, besides winning for 
yourselves an enviable reputation as artists. 
I deem it a pleasure to accept the position which you have so courteously tendered 
me, and I will gladly assist you in carrying out your plans whenever I can properly 
do so. I hope that your spirit and enterprise will in the end be crowned with bril- 
liant success. 
Yours very truly, 
HENRY A. WARD. 
Museum of Natural History, 
College of Charleston, S. C., 
27th June, 1880. 
William T. Hornaday. Secretary S. A. T. : 
My Dear Sir : I have the honor of acknowledging the reception of your favor 
inviting me to become an honorary member of your Society. It gives me great 
pleasure to be thus identified with an association the objects of which I so thoroughly 
sympathize with, and I hereby accept the position you offer me. 
It has often been a source of wonder to me that the art of taxidermy should not 
occupy a higher level with us in America. It is so often associated with other 
occupations that I presume its dignity has been thus somewhat lowered. There is 
no reason, however, why the taxidermist should not hold his head as high as any 
man. He is emunently a student of nature, and when, as a result of his observation 
and skill, he is able to produce a counterpart of life itself, he is entitled to rank on 
the same level as the painter or the sculptor. 
Your Society is one that has my heartiest endorsement, and it is particularly 
gratifying to me, who am in constant intercourse with members of that calling, to 
be considered one of their well-wishers. 
I remain, my dear sir, with great respect, 
Faithfully yours, G. E. MANIGAULT. 
American Museum of Natural History, \ 
Central Park, New York, December 22d, 1880. f 
Wm. T. Hornaday, Secretary of the Society of American Taxiderfnists : 
My Dear Sir : Your very kindly letter is at hand, wherein you inform me 
that the Society of American Taxidermists, at their late general meeting, unani- 
mously elected me an honorary member thereof. 
Please convey to your Society my high appreciation of the honor. I receive it 
as such, and desire always to be in the front rank when its welfare and the highest 
attainment of its purposes can be aided by me. 
Very truly yours. 
J. B. HOLDER. 
