58 SOO. OF AM. TAXIDERMISTS, ANNUAL REPORT. 
and lions and tigers represented ambling ? And yet these were 
made especially for artists. But the criticisms of good artists 
can most assuredly benefit ns — for they, if any one, are trained 
to a proper perception of form, and know the relations between 
attitude and the expression of emotions. They can aid ns, too, 
by giving ns correct sketches of uncommon animals ; but, above 
all, the artists can help us by pointing out to the public the dis- 
tinction between superior and inferior work, and teaching them to 
properly appreciate the former. For one of the greatest obsta- 
cles and severest trials that taxidermists have to contend with is 
the total inability of the majority of people to distinguish good 
work from bad. To most of them a stuffed bird is a stuffed 
bird, be it good, bad, or indifferent ; and it is positively painful 
to hear the praises often lavished by intelligent people on inferior 
work. Undoubtedly taxidermists are largely to blame for this 
state of affairs by not producing more work of a high quality, 
but equally undoubtedly the public must be educated in order to 
appreciate it. This once done, taxidermy will be held in greater 
esteem than now, and better days will be at hand for us. And 
while we need all the help we can obtain, we must mainly 
rely upon ourselves to bring about this result. Herein lies the 
great advantage of onr Society, that it enables us, by combining 
our strength, to accomplish vastly more than by our individual 
efforts. Our exhibitions bring together the best work of our 
best men, and while we are educating the public by its dis- 
play, we are also educating ourselves by the opportunities tlms 
given for comparison of ideas. Hot only this, but the Society 
creates a bond of union between taxidermists and promotes the 
best of feeling among them by uniting them in a common cause. 
We must not expect to win without a struggle and be disap- 
pointed because we do not at once achieve complete success. 
Anything that is worth having is worth working for, and if we 
really wish to elevate our profession and thereby benefit our- 
selves we must strive earnestly to attain our end. And there is 
no better way to do this than by heartily sustaining the Society, 
and I think the event will prove that he who does the most for 
the Society is also doing the most for himself. 
