so SOC. OF AM. TAXIDERMISTS, ANNUAL REPORT. 
Of course this is not altogether due to a lack of good taxidermy ; 
good art is, however, a mighty power, and we now begin to see 
how influential it is. We may need no other evidence than a 
visit to Rochester to the great natural history establishment of 
Professor Ward & Co. ISTo description will give an adequate 
idea of this wonderful adaptation to the modern wants. It is a 
revelation of the newer age. It would seem to he unnecessary 
to allude more fully to this great depot of taxidermy, knowing 
as we do that it is familiar to the peoples of all quarters of the 
globe, as much, probably, through the personal presence of its 
founder, who to-day maj'^ be with us in all the hearty co-operation 
of his genial nature, and anon overlooking the shipment of a 
herd of Elephants in India, or carefully gathering the skins of 
the gorgeous birds of the Pacific isles. So vast is this establish- ^ 
ment, and so numerous the departments, the proprietors And it 
advantageous, both to their customers and to themselves, to pub- 
lish a handsome Bulletin. A copy of the hirst number, contain- 
ing the salutatory, issued in 1881, states that “ the constantly 
increasing business, and demand for explanatory correspondence 
concerning it, renders the issue of a regular news-sheet almost a 
necessity as a matter of self-defense, even though its publication 
should be prompted by no higher motive.” 
What a grand enterprise is this, free from all narrow-minded 
policy, offering all reasonable opportunities to younger aspirants, 
and even publicly offering to assist the inquirer with all proper 
information ! 
In an historical sketch in this Bulletin we notice that the 
founder first had his attention drawn to the public or commer- 
cial footing through the demand made in all quarters for the 
superb casts of the numerous remarkable fossil forms he had col- 
lected for the University at Rochester, where he had been 
engaged as professor of geology. 
We come now to consider one of the most important results 
of the new departure, the inception and organization of the 
Society of American Taxidermists — the first, we believe, that 
has come into existence. In March of 1880 the taxidermists of 
Rochester, in New York, where many of the best artists had prac- 
tised, considered the feasibility of forming an association for the 
