THE SCOPE AND NEEDS OF TAXIDERMY. 
51 
advancement of their art. Several foreign artists had been em- 
ployed here, but there had grown up some in our own land who 
readily advanced to the first ranks. Given such 'personnel^ with 
the ambition and vigor incident to it, it was inevitable that some 
intelligent movement would be made to break up the “ apathetic 
mediocrity lately prevailing.” The great difficulty heretofore 
experienced, as has justly been remarked by one of its founders, 
was the supposed professional jealousy of the taxidermists, and, 
it was added, “We are proud to see that the taxidermists of 
America are the first to rise above the spirit of jealous exclusive- 
ness, which they naturally inherit, and join hands in a cordial and 
united effort to elevate the standard of taxidermic work in gen- 
eral, and to improve themselves in particular.” 
We have seen the Society organized; we have witnessed two 
successful Annual Expositions of the taxidermic art; and now 
a third display, incorporated in this Annual Fair for the public 
inspection and enjoyment, that fairly rivals in its refined and 
tasteful objects any public exhibition that this great city has ever 
witnessed. Well may the friends and members of this new 
Society feel proud of its achievements ; well do the officers and 
promoters of this cause deserve the gratifying success that has 
come to them. 
And now, at the dawn of this third Exposition, let us hope 
that its brilliant and truly unprecedented display will mark a 
period in the new art which will in the future be recalled as the 
full-flowing tide of its successful estabjishment. 
THE SCOPE AND NEEDS OF TAXIDERMY. 
ADDEBSS OF THE PBESIDENT, iPEEDEEIO A. LTJOAS. 
And having thus briefly reviewed the progress of the Society 
during the past year, I wish to say a few words regarding the 
scope and needs of taxiderniy. And should any of you take 
exception to some of my remarks, or consider some of rny ideas 
as visionary and impracticable, you must remember that I am 
treating taxidermy as we hope to make it, not as it too often 
