skillful masters and devoted students, and receive the support and encouragement 
of the general public. On the other hand, there has never been a School of Tax- 
idermy ; few persons have ever fully enjoyed the privilege of working under a 
master in the art, and perhaps not more than one-tenth of all the persons who have 
earnestly desired to learn the art of taxidermy, have been able to succeed in doing 
so, even in a slight degree. In due time, the Society of American Taxidermists 
must address itself to the task of imparting information, regularly and systemat- 
ically. 
I know of no art that embraces so many different methods of procedure as tax- 
idermy, but I have never yet known or heard of a method which can claim to be 
perfection in its practical application. The method for the artist to follow is that 
one or combination of them which will ensure to a specimen grace and naturalness, 
combined with durability, and will also produce the desired result in the shortest 
time and most perfect manner. We may almost say that no two works on taxidermy 
agree in fundamental principles, yet each author has some peculiar merit, and a 
true artist should not discard any without thought, simply because their methods 
may differ from his own. Imagine the sculptor discarding the three pointed calipers 
because his fellow-workers produced the same results with it ; and yet there are 
to-day taxidermists who would actually refuse to adopt an improved method if it 
should chance to be recommended by a rival. 
As yet we have had no complete work written on the subject of taxidermy. 
Of those now in print, each one, almost without exception, has been written by a 
specialist, who has had but little experience outside of his particular line of work. 
The most popular work is Brown’s Manual, it having reached its twenty-first 
edition in Europe, and has lately been reprinted in America with additional matter. 
This address will not admit of a discussion of the merits or demerits of any par- 
ticular work, but for the sake of the rising generation of workers, I feel it my duty 
to here record the opinion that while some manuals of taxidermy teach gross errors, 
all are deplorably lacking in thoroughness and systematic detail. A few deserve to 
be condemned without mercy, and I shall always feel it my duty to assail any work 
which contains mischievous errors. I think in the future we may reasonably expect 
at least three elaborate works on this important subject. We will gladly welcome a 
complete work, written by any thoroughly practical taxidermist, who has had the 
necessary experience in all branches of the art, and has given satisfactory evidence 
of his studies. 
When I am asked, “ Who taught you your art ?” I can only answer, “ Nature, 
and common sense.” The average taxidermist is not a close student of nature. 
Many good artists are closet students only, and their work reveals it plainly to the 
eye of a true naturalist. The amateur must study living forms if he would succeed. 
In the past the art has not been taught in a systematized manner, and the obstacles 
to its advancement have been many, but they are now disappearing. Its progress 
in the past has, after all, been greater than could be expected, considering the 
retarding circumstances that have existed. 
Only in exceptional cases has taxidermy proven remunerative. The art is not 
patronized as it should be, but we may reasonably expect that a proper development 
and improvement will be followed by a new era of prosperity for its followers. 
The study of Natural History is becoming very popular, and the interest now 
manifested in it is in striking contrast with the past. The increase of scientific 
